LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
(LPDC)

In 1996, Ohio's General Assembly mandated the establishment of Local Professional Development Committees (LPDCs) in every school district and chartered nonpublic school (Ohio Revised Code 3319.22). The purpose of the committees is to review the coursework and other professional development activities proposed and completed by educators within the district to determine if the requirements for renewal of licenses have been met (with the exception of professional pupil services licenses that require credentialing through related licensure boards). Based on LPDC review and approval, the Ohio Department of Education issues teaching licenses valid across the state of Ohio. Review by an LPDC does not mean that the educator is qualified to work only in that district; the certificate or license is valid in any district in Ohio.

Portsmouth City School Local Professional Development Committees:

Teacher members make up a majority of the membership of each LPDC. Teacher members are elected by the membership of PCTA and serve two-year terms, with the term beginning in September following election. Two teachers are elected in one year and one the following year, assuring that there is always continuity on the LPDC. Administrator members are appointed by the Superintendent of Schools.

The combined committees make up the LPDC Oversight Committee, which usually meets twice a year – fall and spring. This Oversight Committee carries out the following responsibilities of LPDCs:
• Develop the format for an IPDP for use by educators as they renew their license/certificate.
• Establish a local appeal process for educators who wish to appeal the decision of the LPDC.

Elementary LPDC (Grades PreK – 6)
Chair: Tiffany Newsome Tiffany.newsome@portsmouthtrojans.net
Recorder: Cassie Morris Cassie.Morris@portsmouthtrojans.net
Members
Cindy Damron  Cindy.Damron@portsmouthtrojans.net
Kristi Toppins  Kristi.Toppins@portsmouthtrojans.net
Dana Pollock  Dana.Pollock@portsmouthtrojans.net

Junior High/High School LPDC (Grades 7 – 12, plus counselors, psychologists & administrators)
Chair: Tony Lavinder  Tony.Lavinder@portsmouthtrojans.net
Recorder: Julie Sanders-Johnson  Julie.Sandersjohnson@portsmouthtrojans.net
Members:
Pam Murphy  Pam.Murphy@portsmouthtrojans.net
Doug Poage  Doug.Poage@portsmouthtrojans.net
Eddie Scott  Eddie.Scott@portsmouthtrojans.net

Responsibilities of the Local Professional Development Committee

Local Professional Development Committees are responsible for reviewing and approving Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP) and professional development activities that educators propose to complete for the purpose of license renewal. To carry out this responsibility, LPDCs do the following:

• Clearly establish the criteria by which the LPDC will review educators’ IPDPs, in keeping with standards that have been set by the Ohio Department of Education and are set forth in the booklet Organizing for High-Quality Professional Development
• Establish operating procedures for the submission and review of IPDPs by educators in the district or school. Consistently abide by the established operating procedures and criteria of the LPDC when reviewing educators’ IPDPs.
• Ensure that educators’ course work and other professional development activities meet the standards for renewal of licenses.
• Keep records of the LPDC’s decisions regarding educators’ IPDPs.
• Operate under the Open Meeting Act (Sunshine Law).