(Denver, CO) – Colorado Governor Jared Polis has been named a champion of high-quality education and supporter of career-long educator growth and development by Learning Forward, the leading association dedicated to high-quality professional learning for educators. The award recognizes Polis’ commitment to ensuring student success and his advocacy for career-long educator professional learning, reflecting his vision of education as a pathway to opportunity for every student.
Learning Forward named Polis its 2024 Policymaker of the Year and will honor him during the organization’s Annual Conference taking place in Aurora, Colorado, Dec. 8-11. A former member of U.S. Congress representing Colorado’s Second District and governor since 2019, Polis has consistently prioritized education and access to opportunity for all students to learn and achieve. Nationally, he leads a bipartisan initiative supporting governors to elevate education to be a chief driver of economic opportunity and giving them a platform to examine and share innovative policies and practices that are advancing state education priorities.
Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera will accept the award on Polis’ behalf on December 9, when she will address 3,000 educators attending the nation’s largest annual gathering dedicated solely to professional learning as a lever for K-12 school improvement and student success. She will kick off the conference’s Monday general session with remarks centering on the event’s theme of elevating high-quality professional learning that responds to the nation’s challenges of preparing all students to succeed in school and in life.
Colorado Lt. Gov. Primavera to address 3,000 educators at Learning Forward 2024 Annual Conference
Monday, Dec. 9, 8:15 AM, MT
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, CO | Aurora Ballroom, Level 2
“Governor Polis and his administration deserve our top policy award this year, and we’re excited to present the award in their home state of Colorado,” said Frederick Brown, Learning Forward President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled that Lieutenant Governor Primavera is able to be with us Monday morning to welcome our dedicated educator community and accept the award on behalf of the administration.”
In addition to his solid record of investing in K-12 education and supporting teacher professional learning over the years, Polis has put education policy in a new national spotlight as chair of the National Governors Association. He announced his education policy agenda, “Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success,” at a National Governors Association summer convening.
The Learning Forward conference is the annual destination for the latest evidence-based professional learning approaches and innovative tools for educators to grow in their careers and improve student achievement. The event offers an inspirational slate of speakers along with carefully designed four days of intensive exploration, collaboration, and reflection.
Conference participants experience deep learning through interactive sessions where they are encouraged to analyze data from their own schools and education systems and use it to inform their plans for putting their learning into practice.
Topics addressed this year include improving instruction, evidence-backed literacy instruction, applying data-driven decision making, implementing high-quality instructional materials, understanding professional development redesign, developing leadership capacity, learning facilitation skills, and supporting new teachers and principals.
For more information, visit conference.learningforward.org.
Media Contact:
Gail Paul gail.paul@learningforward.org
