About Professional Learning

The Department of Professional Learning develops, facilitates, and manages professional learning experiences for administrators, teachers, and support staff throughout Roanoke City Public Schools. By cultivating a community of adult learners, staff are better prepared to support and advance student achievement. Professional Learning includes division-wide professional development days, ongoing opportunities for all staff to participate in personalized learning opportunities, new educator orientation, and program-specific instruction. Examples of events include:

• Division-wide professional learning: RCPS educators regularly participate in professional learning opportunities that explore the division’s instructional core values, its culture and climate of safety, and content-specific instructional practices.

• Ongoing professional learning: Courses on a variety of topics, from instruction to well-being, are offered throughout the year to all RCPS employees.

• New Educator Orientation: The annual two-day orientation welcomes educators new to RCPS and provides a basic overview of the division’s vision and core values.

• Program-specific training: The Department of Professional Learning also works with outside partners to manage learning opportunities and training for programs that RCPS participates in, such as the E3+ (Empowering Educators to Excel) program through the U.S. Department of Education.

How to Enroll

Staff members interested in participating in professional learning opportunities should review course offerings and register on PowerSchool Professional Learning (PL). PowerSchool PL is the program for registration, tracking attendance, course completion, and recertification points for Roanoke City Public Schools.

Have a suggestion or request for learning opportunities? Click here to submit.      

Professional Learning Staff

Cari Gates, Executive Director of Professional Learning: [email protected]

Jamey McKenna, Supervisor of Instructional Technology: [email protected]

Mandy Horsley, Coordinator of Professional Growth & Partnerships: [email protected]

Shelly Atkins, E3+ Project School Leader Coach: [email protected]

Thelma Marsh, Human Resources Associate: [email protected]

The Department of Professional Learning also includes school-based Instructional Technology Resource Teachers:

The Office of Professional Learning is led by:


Cari Gates
Executive Director of Professional Learning
(540) 853.2300  |  [email protected]




The Office of Professional Learning is part of the Human Resources, which reports to:


Dominick McKee
Chief Human Resources Officer
(540) 853.2502  |  [email protected]