Investing in People, First and Always
At Da Vinci, investing in people isn’t the exception—it’s the rule. Da Vinci teachers receive 20 days of professional development (23 for new teachers) spread throughout the school year—an intentional investment that reflects our belief that when teachers thrive, students thrive.
A Strong Start for New Teachers
We kicked off the new school year by welcoming 12 new teachers with a three-day introduction to Da Vinci’s vision, mission, and culture. The group toured all of our schools, starting with the new LifeLaunch program at Belkin, and joined workshops led by veteran teachers on school culture, advisory, project-based learning, and classroom management.
New teachers shared how meaningful this experience was: “Even though (new teacher) PD was only a few days, I already feel a strong connection with the veteran teachers who guided us.” Another added, “I really appreciated the time to learn from and work with the veteran teachers on project-based learning. This was a very well-structured and supportive aspect of the PD that I deeply appreciated.”
Focus Areas for 2025-26
After their kickoff, new teachers joined returning staff for site-based PD and a Welcome Back All Staff PD on Aug. 14. Together, we celebrated last year’s successes, looked ahead to 2025-26, and heard updates from across our schools. Some of the focus areas for the year ahead include:
- Launching a new data hub to strengthen interventions so every student gets the support they need
- Improving math and literacy outcomes for all students
- Introducing student digital portfolios and industry-relevant certifications
School leadership teams also facilitated professional development at their respective sites. At DVC, the theme for the year is “Back to the Future” – reflecting on Los Angeles’ history while envisioning its future. As part of this work, DVC staff explored the ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles, recognized as the nation’s #1 college for innovation, and visited Olvera Street, the historic birthplace of the city.
“It was wonderful to reconnect with colleagues and meet new faces,” said one returning teacher. “I especially enjoyed hearing about the innovative work happening at ASU and reflecting on how rewarding innovation can be when we take the time and embrace new innovative approaches. Visiting Olvera Street was also a highlight—I learned so much about Los Angeles history that I hadn’t known before.”
Additionally, Da Vinci’s team of 20 Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers spent an afternoon at Google’s Playa Vista offices, collaborating on the launch of student digital portfolios for CTE classes across all five of Da Vinci’s high schools.
We can’t wait to see all our educators thrive and inspire excellence in their students!
