Dr. Stacey Alicea on the State of Professional Learning For many teachers, the school year so far may feel rife with challenges and increasingly complex paths to navigate. The question before those of us dedicated to advancing professional learning under these circumstances is a simple one: how can we help? With the challenges teachers face … Continued
Without guidance on classroom materials or effective professional development, teachers may give students classwork not appropriate for their grade This story was produced by The 74, a non-profit, independent news organization focused on education in America. The recent National Assessment of Educational Progress results brought news that educators and families alike were dreading: Math and reading scores for … Continued
A Recap of Rivet Education’s Professional Learning Power Hour It’s no secret that the pandemic disrupted student learning, and many school system leaders are grappling with how to rebound. But one of the most promising solutions is getting little attention: curriculum-based professional learning. Recently, four members of our team joined Jennifer Wells from Rivet Education … Continued
Commentary on Leading Educators’ study of long-term Impact School districts nationwide invest 3-5 percent of their budgets each year in developing their educators. Yet, professional development programs often fail to improve teachers’ instructional practice or student achievement (Kraft et al., 2018). In the 2016-17 school year, U.S. spending on public elementary and secondary schools totaled … Continued
How Leading Educators Supported Chicago Public Schools During Pandemic Teaching This case study originally appeared in the 2021 Lloyd A. Fry Foundation Annual Report. We have re-published it as originally written with the foundation’s permission. Photography by Roark Johnson. A Chicago teacher of third-grade math saw her students struggling with multiplication. “There was this refrain: … Continued
This piece was originally written for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s What We’re Learning blog. You can find the original link here. “When the crisis struck in March, we immediately thought: ‘Will we need to tap the brakes?’” Brielle Brewick, an Associate Director of Networks at Leading Educators, reflects. “We thought there would be … Continued
An Excerpt From “The Elements” This essay is an excerpt from The Elements: Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning, a challenge paper that explores how professional learning anchored in high-quality curriculum materials allows teachers to experience the instruction their students will receive and change their instructional practices, leading to better student outcomes. Cowritten with Stephanie … Continued
Many educators are currently planning and leading virtual learning for the first time. It can feel like a big adjustment. Similar to the way that teachers are having to adapt their lessons for remote instruction, school systems are grappling with how to provide professional learning for teachers. We know that when teachers learn, students learn, … Continued
Principles for High-Quality, Standards-Aligned Professional Learning Across the country, we’re seeing a promising shift in professional learning that is getting sustainable results at a large scale. When teachers have strong support to work together on lessons that inspire and excite students, schools become more equitable. So, what’s the difference between traditional “PD”—widely seen as a … Continued
Sara Neal is a Senior Director at Leading Educators. She has supported dozens of Louisiana schools to establish strong leadership and professional development systems since 2014. Sara has been an educator for more than 20 years, and she was a member of Leading Educators’ first cohort. “Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess … Continued
Get timely insights direct to your inbox. Sign up for the latest news, tips, and opportunities from Leading Educators.
