Our Mission

In the summer of 2011, the Sachem Central Teachers Association (SCTA) realized, as the district's teachers' Union, that the quality and variety of Professional Development opportunities available to its members and educators throughout Suffolk Couty fell woefully short of what was needed. The SCTA executive officers decided that to remedy this problem, a nonprofit corporation run by educators would be created, sponsored, and directed by the SCTA. Sachem Professional Development Inc. (SPDI) was born! Since then, SPDI has fast become a reputable and competitive regional Professional Development Center serving teachers seeking high-quality and affordable Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credit. As a nonprofit corporation run by educators - we "get it" - that most teachers seeking CTLE credit tend to be newly minted teachers. Generally, this group is the least likely to afford the expense of enrolling in a class, nor can they afford the time commitment of sitting in a traditional classroom environment. As a result, SPDI looks to serve this population by keeping costs low and offering many online courses to complete these essential activities at one's own pace. The net benefit of filling this niche market is clear, and it truly provides a service few can offer. Please note, although we provide online courses, we still offer many "face-to-face" courses in a traditional classroom setting.

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As a not-for-profit corporation, we run a "lean machine." We are committed to keeping costs down in all aspects of our business. Our courses can be within reach economically to the largest segment of the population that needs quality Professional Development courses while meeting the required NYSED standards. We welcome other school districts to subscribe to our online course catalog via Frontline Education (Formerly known as MyLearningPlan). Additionally, by "opening up" our catalog and making it directly available to teachers, your district will benefit from subscriber pricing versus regular pricing for our courses—a savings of $25 per course.

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In the last 10 years, it is incredible how Frontline Education has quickly become the de facto standard of web-based educator evaluation and professional learning data management solutions in many K-12 school districts throughout the United States and around the world. SPDI was also quick to recognize the utility of MLP and was among the first in New York to embrace its technology. As a result, SPDI can efficiently and expeditiously process your enrollment – from viewing our online catalog, registering, getting district course approval, paying for your courses by credit card, and, finally, sending the information of the completed activity back to your school district. It is another reason why so many teachers and school districts find SPDI a perfect solution to their Professional Development needs.

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Although technology is used extensively to run SPDI, we also recognize the human element is still vital in handling the nuances of the enrollment process. So, whether it's juggling course enrollments, missed deadlines, or technical issues, we are there to help. Any questions or issues are gladly addressed over the phone – (631) 488-0640. Of course, e-mail works too – info@ispdi.com. And, if you need to send a fax, our fax number is (631) 270-9363.

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Again, SPDI is proud to have been approved by NYSED as a Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Sponsor. Our compliance with the Commissioner of Education's Section 80-6 regulations gives both teachers and school districts the added sense of confidence in the quality of SPDI courses. I wish you all the best in your educational pursuits and, I thank you for considering SPDI.

 

Very truly yours,
Nicholas Antonucci

Executive Director
Sachem Professional Development Inc. (SPDI)