For me, the Learning Forward Academy was a profound multi-layered learning experience. I generated shared knowledge and language while forming collegial partnerships and friendships that exist to this day and have continued to grow. I developed a more relevant understanding of the Standards for PL and related tools, and benefited from seeing effective PL modeled throughout the process. Looking back, Academy was really the jumping off point for me to engage more deeply with Learning Forward across the board. I also laughed - a lot!

Why invest in the Learning Forward Academy? It is an opportunity of a lifetime to deepen dispositions and collaborate with peers. The Learning Forward Academy is an engaging learning community of professionals from around the world that commit to exploring effective practices for their organizations. As an Academy member, I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of professional learning as it relates to teaching and learning. The Academy provided a collaborative space for me to deepen my knowledge, attitude, skills, aspirations, and behaviors by engaging in inquiry around a Problem of Practice.

Learning Forward Academy is one of those life changing educator experiences. Using my problem of practice and working with experts and colleagues greatly supported, impacted and ensured student success in my district.

These are all things that I can very easily share with my district as well as with members of our state department of education as I work to become a more influential advocate for professional learning as the best path for improving education.

Finally, when I began this process, I had a very limited understanding of how to formatively assess professional learning. Not only have I developed skills that can allow me to assess the structures and content of professional learning, but also the teacher concern and level of use around their professional learning and what to do with the results to move teachers into a place where their professional learning is positively impacting the students in their classrooms.

As a leader, I have developed confidence in my ability to lead professional learning and advocate for professional learning, not only with my faculty, but also within our district and state. I have become much more intentional with my communication and my actions around professional learning. I also believe that I have developed skills as a strategic planner for professional learning and understand how to examine the change we hope to accomplish and plan for steps to move toward the desired change.

We have been able to idea share, be critical listeners, and work off of each other’s successes and failures. It has been this networking that has been the most valuable and has increased my proverbial “toolbox” of resources in my day to day job and overall growth and development.

Due to my LFA teammates, as well as other academy members and conference attendees, I have made connections and communicated with folks with whom I would have otherwise never made association. I have had phone calls, emails, and Skype sessions with others who have made an immediate impact on my day to day operations. Being able to work with a curriculum director from New York, professional developers from Arizona and Illinois, as well as well as an Asst. Super from Oregon has provided me both a depth and breadth of perspective that has been unparalleled.