Frederick Brown
President | CEO
Frederick Brown is Learning Forward’s president | CEO. Fred is an education visionary who knows firsthand that our nation’s schools need transformational change if we are to meet the challenges of the next decades. Fred advocates that every child deserves to reach their highest potential and every educator must have the opportunity to participate in exemplary, ongoing, professional learning programs to provide students the skills needed to meet their unique needs. Supporting educators at all levels and improving student achievement are through lines of Fred's career. An elementary school teacher, a middle school assistant principal, and school principal, Fred saw firsthand the impact high-leverage instructional practices and school culture have on school success. Fred is a frequent speaker on leadership and building high-quality learning in schools. He has co-authored two books that have made significant contributions to the field of education, demonstrating how a comprehensive approach to professional learning can be achieved so that everyone in a system is a learner, and how principals apply a learning lens to their many critical responsibilities to create a productive climate for learning and collaboration. "Becoming a Learning System" and "The Learning Principal -- Becoming a Learning Leader" are time-tested Learning Forward resources for schools and leaders. Fred is a Learning Forward Academy graduate and serves as secretary/treasurer on the board of Learning First Alliance.
All Articles
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Professional learning helps educators address student learning gaps
Most of us accept that scientific knowledge evolves over time, so best practices in medicine and other science fields change. Knowledge about the learning sciences evolves, too, so we should constantly revisit and adjust education practices. To paraphrase the great Maya Angelou, when we know better, we should do better. […] -
One year in: Leading and teaching with the standards
Welcome to Standards for Professional Learning Week 2023! I hope you celebrate with us by joining our live daily presentations focused on topics that address pressing issues for educators right now: advancing outcomes for all learners; elevating educator voices; embedding equity; examining impact; and advocating for support and equitable funding […] -
Improvement cycles can change students’ lives
When people ask me how improvement cycles help teachers, I think back to when I was a teacher who didn’t know about improvement methods. In particular, I recall my second year as teacher, when I had a little knowledge, but not a lot. (You know what they say about a […] -
Public schools educate best when all educators are well-supported
How are you celebrating Public Schools Week? This week, I will spend time both in reflection and action, grateful for the excellent professional learning I’ve engaged in and eager to spread that kind of meaningful learning to all educators. Public Schools Week inspires me to reflect on my experiences as […] -
Principals, are you leading schools where teachers want to stay?
I was a building principal more than 25 years ago, and I’ll be the first to admit that schools have changed a great deal since then. There was no TikTok or Instagram for teachers to compete with, and the thought of students bringing cellphones to school never crossed our minds. […] -
How we can support one another’s equity journey
As educational equity has become a heated topic over the last few years, many educators who are passionate about meeting students’ needs have been unsure what to say and do. Aware of the political and cultural battles being waged around them, they are wary of triggering hostile responses to their […] -
Investments in principals are investments in teachers
There’s no doubt about it — this is a challenging time to be an educator. With the disruption of the pandemic, school safety concerns, political tensions about what teachers should teach, student trauma, and more, it’s no wonder that teachers are reporting high levels of stress, burnout, and thoughts about […] -
What professional learning leaders can learn from Disney
I recently had the wonderful experience of enjoying the Disney World parks with members of my extended family who span a 70-year age range. As we averaged about 20,000 steps a day, exploring the Magic Kingdom and other parks, I couldn’t help but watch the anticipation and excitement on the […] -
Virtual Advocacy Day: Skills, strategies, and motivation for making the case for professional learning
Every educator can, and should be, an advocate. Making your case, telling your story, and winning support has never been more critical. This important session includes advocacy strategies and tips that are applicable to any advocacy effort. Watch to hone your skills, build confidence, and get excited about being an […] -
Take action to address declining NAEP scores. Invest in professional learning.
When the U.S. Department of Education released results from “the nation’s report card” yesterday, the results were not altogether surprising. The negative impact of COVID on educators and students has been well-documented. But the size and significance of declines in student achievement were startling. For the first time in the […]
