National Harbor, Maryland, December 8 — Learning Forward’s 2023 Annual Conference wrapped up just a few hours ago, but educators’ enthusiasm will live on as they apply new learning about best practices for evidence-based professional learning that leads to improved student outcomes.
Over 3,300 educators, professional learning experts, and policy makers participated in four days of interactive learning about how to respond to the growing and changing needs of students.
On Tuesday, December 5, professional learning for educators took center stage, with conference goers’ massive show of support: most of the 3,300 conference attendees wore blue t-shirts with the message that “Professional Learning IS… stronger schools, it IS teacher retention, and it IS student success.”
“This is a great moment for us all to stand up for professional learning,” Frederick Brown, Learning Forward President & CEO, announced from the stage, calling on educators to show their communities and representatives how coaching, collaboration with colleagues, and other forms of high-quality professional learning are making a difference in their schools. Brown and Melinda George, Learning Forward’s chief policy officer, then asked that auditorium lights be brought up to showcase the T-shirt Tuesday rally.
“When the house lights came on and I could see a beautiful sea of blue t-shirts, it touched my heart and strengthened my resolve. Our movement to expand high-quality educator professional learning worldwide now has deeper roots than ever before, and students will be the beneficiaries,” George said. “Funding for professional learning, especially Title II-A in the United States, has never been more critical.”
“Educators know that high-quality professional learning is essential, but we need everyone to know this and hear about how it works in schools as an accelerant for equitable school improvement and student achievement,” George said. “We are ready to tell this story on a much bigger stage.”
Learning Forward captured numerous stories of impact from district, school, and professional learning leaders at its recent Annual Conference. Look for these stories from the field as we publish them on our blog and in The Learning Professional, in upcoming months. If you have a story to share, please contact us.
Media Contact: Gail Paul, gail.paul@learningforward.org, (513) 379-8153
About Learning Forward
Learning Forward leads the field in making clear connections between high-quality professional learning and student success. As a champion for highly effective professional learning and a catalyst for change, Learning Forward demonstrates evidence and research that inform professional learning decisions. We produce, synthesize, and curate key research and reports that inform best practices. A membership association, Learning Forward provides a combination of publicly available and members-only content and professional services that assist classroom, school, and system leaders in solving their unique problems of practice. Information about the organization, including Standards for Professional Learning, membership, services, and products, is available at www.learningforward.org.
