All PMPEI courses are taught by instructors who complete an intensive workshop to prepare them to teach each of the courses. In these training sessions instructors thoroughly review and discuss the instructional materials used in the course and learn skills for teaching adults. A goal of the PMPEI program is to make sure that all courses are presented uniformly wherever they are taken.

Certified Instructors receive compensation for teaching, meal and travel expenses. Instructor performance is continuously monitored to insure that the quality of instruction is maintained at the highest level.

A Train-the-Trainer program to prepare new instructors to teach the Course in Zoning Administration will be held October 24 and 25 (Friday and Saturday), 2008. The training will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, State College, PA.

This is an intensive 16-hour training program over two days that includes in-depth review and discussion of the course materials, how to teach adults, how to team teach with other instructors, and how to organize and present a PMPEI course. Three current Certified Instructors will be in charge of the training. The program will begin Friday morning and continue all day, including a post-dinner session. Training on Saturday will conclude by 4:30 PM.

The registration fee for the training is $150. (The major costs of training are supported by PMPEI and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association.) The registration fee includes all meals and breaks, and teaching materials. Applicants provide their own travel, accommodations, and meals en route. A block of rooms at a discounted rate is available at the Hilton Garden Inn. Reservations should be made directly by applicants to the Hilton at (814) 272-1221. (A listing of other hotel/motel accommodations in the State College area will be sent to applicants.)

Applications for admission to the Train-the-Trainer program are reviewed by the PMPEI Board of Directors. The basic qualification for acceptance is five years of planning and/or zoning experience in Pennsylvania. Instructors are expected to teach for PMPEI for a minimum of three years following the training.

The deadline to register for the 2008 Train-the-Trainer program is October 3, 2008.

For an application, or additional information, contact Stanford Lembeck, AICP (814) 237-2382, e-mail: sml1@psu.edu