Losing Time to PD Day Logistics?

Professional development days should be about growth and learning – not wrestling with schedules and spreadsheets. 

Yet organizing professional development events comes with a large set of challenges. We hear from district leaders and PD coordinators every day about the real challenges: teachers wandering halls looking for their next session, administrators scrambling to track attendance, and valuable feedback slipping through the cracks.

Your educators deserve better than confusion and chaos. 

When you’re managing district-wide training or multi-track workshops, every minute spent on administrative headaches is a minute taken away from what matters most: supporting teacher growth and student success. The ripple effects of disorganized PD days go far beyond frustration – they impact teaching quality, staff engagement, and ultimately, classroom outcomes. 

Here’s where event management software tools can simplify your school’s PD processes.

The Pain Points: Challenges in Organizing Effective PD Events 

Whether you’re organizing a district-wide training day or a series of department workshops, these familiar challenges can transform professional development from an opportunity for growth into an exercise in frustration.

Let’s look at the real obstacles that make PD coordination and logistics more complicated than they need to be:

  • Planning Software Complications: Using free tools like Google Forms and Sheets can lead to organizational headaches and inflexibility. They just weren’t designed to handle the complex, fast-shifting needs of school district teacher training and can be hard for non-techie users to manage. Trying to use a set of uncoordinated apps, especially when quick changes are needed, is tough on everyone. 
  • Room Planning and Availability Issues: Making sure the right size rooms are used to handle each professional development session can be a headache. Switching up rooms to allow for popular sessions to take place can be impossible at the last minute, leading to overcrowding and frustration.
  • Speaker Booking and Information: Booking the right speakers, collecting information on them to share with attendees (like photos, bios, and links), and disseminating handouts from their sessions can be a time-consuming business. 
  • Resource Limitations: Without the right tools, even the most well-intentioned efforts can falter under the weight of manual processes.
  • Attendance and Feedback Tracking Issues: Managing attendance, feedback, and session popularity can be overwhelming without streamlined processes.
  • Communication Gaps: Confusing schedules and last-minute changes often leave attendees frustrated.
  • Low Engagement: Educators may feel disconnected from PD events that lack personalization or accessible resources.

Sched provides a comprehensive solution to these common hurdles that simplifies event management and maximizes its impact.

Using Event Management Software To Make Teacher Training Engaging

Sched’s event management software platform revolutionizes the way schools plan and execute PD events. By automating many of the time-consuming tasks and pain points, event planners and administrators can focus on delivering value to attendees, and a promising ROI for sponsors.

“We have had nothing but positive feedback with Sched,” says Alma DeLeon, Campus Content Specialist for Technology, Pasadena ISD, California.

Here’s how:

  • Easy Registration: Streamlined registration systems ensure educators can sign up for sessions quickly and efficiently.
  • Accessibility: With mobile-friendly platforms, educators can access schedules and resources from anywhere.
  • Accurate Attendance Tracking: Real-time event analytics tools monitor attendance and provide instant insights into participant engagement.
  • Enhanced Communication: Automated notifications and centralized updates eliminate confusion, keeping everyone informed.
  • Call for Papers: Ditch the spreadsheets with Sched’s Call for Papers tool! Sched’s Call for Papers feature offers flexible options for submissions, multi-tiered sessions, multi-speaker support, built right into the app!

By addressing logistical hurdles, Sched’s tools create a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees.

Top 5 Key Features to Look for in Event Management Software for Professional Development

There are plenty of event management tools on the market. But, not all software tools for school events are created equal. 

When planning large-scale events for your school or district, here are some of our top 5 features to look for that should align with your specific needs. 

  1. Customizable Scheduling Tools: Adaptable options for multi-track events and individualized schedules. Ability to customize branding in line with your district’s look and feel.
  2. Reporting and Analytics: Data-driven insights to measure event success and refine future planning.
  3. Integration Capabilities: Compatibility with existing systems like learning management software (LMS) and SSO sign-on.
  4. User-Friendly Design: Platforms that are intuitive and require minimal training for educators and administrators.
  5. Mobile Access: Tools optimized for smartphones and tablets to ensure accessibility during in-person, hybrid, or virtual events. Letting attendees check in with QR codes makes it easy to keep sessions on time and track engagement accurately.

Why Sched is the Right Choice for K-12 Schools & Districts Looking for Simplicity and Flexibility

Teachers

Sched is a leader in event management software, trusted by K-12 schools and top universities to simplify their events. Here’s why:

  • Low Cost: Sched’s event management software costs a fraction of the price of competitors’ offerings. Affordability is a huge win for limited budgets.
  • Unlimited Events: Organize as many events as you need.
  • Fast Implementation: Sched’s platform is easy to set up, saving valuable time for administrators.
  • Customizable Experience: From personalized schedules to branded mobile apps, Sched adapts to the unique needs of your school.
  • Comprehensive Support: Sched’s friendly and responsive team ensures a smooth user experience from start to finish.
  • Lasting Impact: Keep your events alive indefinitely by adding session recordings and resources for ongoing learning opportunities.

Discover Why Hundreds of K-12 School Manage Their Professional Development Event Calendar with Sched

Sched transforms the way schools plan, organize, and execute professional development events.

With its intuitive features and proven track record, Sched empowers educators and administrators to focus on what matters most: delivering impactful learning experiences.

Try Sched today and experience the difference with a free trial.

Ready To Get Started?

If you’re inspired by this story, then let’s get you started today with your own year-round professional development and teacher training planning.