Announcements

Learning Forward launched its 2015 Annual Conference this weekend at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Focusing on the theme Lead Change, Maximize Impact, more than 350 session presenters, keynoters, and thought leaders are facilitating inspirational learning with educators responsible for leading professional learning across the country and the world.

Learning Forward and Corwin announce the Instructional Leadership Team from Braulio Alonso School in Tampa, Florida, as the winner of the 2015 Shirley Hord Learning Team Award. This award is given annually to a team of teachers that demonstrates Learning Forward’s definition of professional learning in action.

Learning Forward announces that Michelle King now serves the organization as associate director of communities. King will help to coordinate Learning Forward’s online communities of practice, supporting a network of districts committed to professional development redesign.

American Express and the National Association of Secondary School Principals named Learning Forward, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education, one of five recipients of nearly $2.5 million in the Principals Path to Leadership grant program, which is designed to expand effective principal preparation programs and share their best practices broadly to impact education reform.

Learning Forward, the professional learning association, is proud to announce that its three-year Galveston County Learning Leaders initiative, which is funded by a $420,000 grant from the Houston Endowment, began last Thursday in Santa Fe ISD with eight Galveston County superintendents and their leadership teams who plan to improve teaching and learning across the county.

Learning Forward and the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) are excited to announce that Laurie Calvert will serve the organizations as education policy advisor, effective immediately. The full-time joint position will leverage Calvert’s considerable education and communications expertise in the development of research publications and coordinating policy and advocacy initiatives for both organizations.

We know with greater clarity than ever before: Unless teacher development is shaped by individual teacher and student needs and part of a coherent system of support, educator practices won’t change and students won’t have access to the great teaching they deserve.

René Islas, senior vice president of research, development, and demonstration for Learning Forward, has accepted the opportunity to lead the National Association of Gifted Children as executive director.

Learning Forward has launched a professional learning initiative that will help Galveston County, Texas, area superintendents and their leadership teams support school leaders, change educator practice, and improve student results.

Deborah Jackson, special projects administrator in Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools, began her term as president of Learning Forward at the conclusion of the association’s annual conference in Nashville, Tenn., on December 10, 2014.

Learning Forward and Corwin announce the K-1st vertical dual language learning team at Tombaugh Elementary School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as the winner of the 2014 Shirley Hord Learning Team Award. This award is given annually to a team of teachers that demonstrates the highest quality of collaborative professional learning, as described in Learning Forward’s definition of professional learning in action.

Like so many other educators, I am studying the recent poll results about public and educator opinions about Common Core State Standards, particularly from PDK International and Education Next, with great interest and concern. Learning Forward has consistently held the view that rigorous learning standards for students have significant potential to increase students’ equal access to engaging and meaningful learning experiences. Therefore, Learning Forward strongly supports Common Core standards and is eager to see their effective implementation in states across the nation.