In-school training and professional development of teachers are crucial elements for the continuous improvement of the quality of education. These processes, which address the broader and/or specific needs of the school unit, contribute not only to enhancing teachers’ skills and knowledge, but also to improving the overall school community. The teachers of the Thessaloniki Music School showed great interest in the in-school trainings by discipline held in our school, both collective and individual, which highlighted the school organisation as a learning community. The in-school trainings, which took place in the Music School of Thessaloniki during the school year 2024-2025, are linked to the educational work provided, but also to the role of the teacher not only as a teacher but also as a pedagogue, in an effort of development and improvement through reflection, strengthening his/her knowledge and skills for the benefit of the learning process and the holistic education of students.
With the conviction that the quality and effectiveness of the educational process is inextricably linked to the teacher, whose role as the main actor shapes the school reality and contributes to the promotion of educational needs and the effectiveness of teaching and pedagogical practice, numerous training sessions were organized and implemented during the school year at Thessaloniki Music School.
The in-school trainings that were planned and implemented for teachers of all specialties in our school have a variety of content and rich thematic content, taking into account the specific conditions of the school unit and the needs of the school community:
- On 30-10-2024 a two-hour in-school training (12.30-14.30) was held on “Grief management and support of the educational community”, with the speaker A. Kalaitzaki, psychologist of the Counselling Centre of Merimna as speaker.
- 17-02-2025 a two-hour in-school teacher training was held on “Flamenco in 20th century Spanish piano music: from interpretation to teaching” (https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/to-flamenko-os-pigi-empneysis-kai-dimioyrgias-stin-ispaniki-moysiki-gia-piano-toy-20oy-aiona-apo-tin-ermineia-sti-didaskalia-endoscholiki-epimorfosi-ekpaideytikon-pe79-01/)
- 25-01/2025, 22-02-2025 and 08-03-2025 two-hour training seminars for piano teachers were held at the Thessaloniki Music School which were also addressed to the wider educational community (https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/epimorfotikes-draseis-endynamosis-ekpaideytikon-moysikis-epistimis-sto-m-s-th/, https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/epimorfotiko-seminario-pianoy-sto-moysiko-scholeio-thessalonikis/, https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/ylopoiisi-tritoy-epimorfotikoy-seminarioy-ekpaideytikon-pe79-kai-te16-eidikotitas-pianoy-sto-moysiko-scholeio-thessalonikis/)
- 03-02-2025 a two-hour training seminar on fire safety and emergency management was held in cooperation with the 3rd Fire Brigade of Thessaloniki (https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/seminario-pyrasfaleias-mathiton-trion-kai-ekpaideytikon-sto-m-s-th/)
- 09-03-2025 a two-hour briefing on earthquake risk and protection issues was held (https://msth.gr/anakoinoseis/oasp-omilia-gia-themata-seismikoy-kindynoy-kai-prostasias-se-ekpaideytikoys-kai-mathites-tries-toy-m-s-th/)
- 03-04-2025 a two-hour in-school training (12.30-14.30) was held on “Management of pupils with behavioural problems” with Mrs S. Siakpa and Mr K. Papadopoulos psychologist and social worker of the school respectively.
- 29-04-2025 a two-hour in-school training (12.30-14.30) was held on “Use of Interactive Screens and Inclusion: Best Practices” with speakers the in-school coordinators A. Sofou and V. Toura.
Based on the fact that teachers’ learning experiences at the school unit level contribute in many ways to their professional development and effectiveness, as well as to the improvement of the school’s effectiveness, we have planned the systematic implementation of in-school trainings in cooperation with teachers, mental health specialists and institutions.