Instructor Development

Instructor Development Program

Supervisor:   Mr Mike Staszewski

Instructor Development encompasses the philosophy of "How to teach the NSPS way",  the "mentoring" process, along with instructor and course administration training that applies to all NSPS disciplines.

Program Details:  Instructor Development Course - All members aspiring to be an NSPS instructor, regardless of the chosen discipline, must successfully complete this mandatory course.   This is a good course to have under your belt even if you do not wish to be an instructor.  All members (candidates too!) are welcome to attend/participate.

Without exception, all Instructors/Evaluators/ITs must:

  1. Have current instructor qualification appointments reflected in the National database,
  2. Have no outstanding discipline refresher obligations,
  3. Be members in good standing IAW the National P&P.

Members not meeting these requirements will have all discipline instructor/IT qualifications rescinded until all obligations are met.

Q:  How do I become an NSPS Instructor?

A:  Contact the specific Division Discipline Program Supervisor you're interested in to begin your instructor  mentoring journey.

  • It is vital to keep the Division ID Supervisor and discipline Program Supervisors in the loop on all instructor issues.   Instructor appointments are generated on a instructor Application accompanied by a completed mentoring form emailed to Discipline Program Supervisor after a mentoring period is complete.  The mentoring duration depends on the material to be covered and the witnessed intern performance regarding:
  1. Stage presence - comfy in front of a group, not nervous or fidgeting (knowing the material to be presented enhances stage presence)
  2. Material Articulation - does the intern present the material in a way the student understands (talk the talk)?
  3. Skill Demonstration - doing what was presented in lecture (walk the walk)
  4. Error Detection - are performance errors caught and correctly assessed?
  5. Error Correction - is the proper corrective measure articulated?
  6. Feedback - does this critical communication present an honest assessment, provide a way ahead for future positive student performance and encourage renewed enthusiasm?
  • When the witnessing Instructor-Trainer (IT) has a comfort/confidence level with the intern's performance in the areas above, the instructor appointment recommendation is then emailed to the Program Supervisor.  The Program Supervisor may also want to witness intern performance at a particular event of their choosing.
  • A credentialed instructor MUST complete a discipline-specific Continuing Education (CE) clinic at least once within a 3 year cycle.
  • The instructor tracks their instructional activity within the NSPS website's "Instructor Activity Log".  Entries into this log supports the Discipline Program Supervisor's decision to allow/disallow continued instructor credentialing.
  • A dangerous liability situation we can't afford to involve ourselves in:  At no time is an intern to instruct solo.  Instructor interns must be under the direct supervision of an NSPS credentialed instructor for that discipline at all times.