Jefna M. Cohen
Associate Editor
Jefna M. Cohen is associate editor at Learning Forward. She contributes to strategy and content for The Learning Professional journal, the Learning Forward blog, books, and other publications. She also facilitates relationships with the Learning Forward community of authors and members and our online audience. Cohen is a longtime educator with a unique blend of expertise in both education and writing. Her experience includes nearly twenty years of teaching in elementary school classrooms in Portland, Oregon, spanning a variety of settings, including Title I, private, and public charter schools. Cohen is also a copywriter and avid fiction creator. She holds a master of education from Portland State University and an undergraduate degree from Lewis & Clark College.
All Articles
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How district size matters to the principalship
More than 70% of school districts in the U.S. serve fewer than 3,000 students (NCES, 2022), and a recent study found that those districts are less likely than larger districts to provide school principals with the supports to be effective leaders (Diliberti et al., 2024). This has concerning implications for […] -
Announcing new 2025 columnists for The Learning Professional
We are thrilled to announce a fresh set of columns in the Voices section of The Learning Professional. Throughout 2025, three talented, thoughtful, and deeply committed educators will be sharing their unique perspectives on topics that are important to our readers. The authors joining us this year are Kim Richardson, […] -
New Jersey affiliate learns together about AI
How might students use AI to help them think? This was one of the questions discussed during a recent “Chat n Chew” online gathering hosted by the New Jersey Learning Forward affiliate. Learning Forward affiliates are local chapters across the U.S., Canada, and India, founded and maintained by area professional […] -
The Learning Professional's top 10 articles from 2024
Every year, certain articles from our journal, The Learning Professional, pique readers’ interests and rise to the top of their reading lists. This year, some of those favorite pieces touched on enduring topics, like “8 dimensions of wellness for educators,” from February 2021, “A promising path toward equity,” published in […] -
Teaming up to improve literacy in Tennessee: Q&A with Sharon Roberts and Courtney Bell
The Learning Forward publications team often wants to follow up on the current state of all the inspiring, system-changing work we’ve encountered through the stories told in this magazine. When we heard about the recent work of the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), it was the perfect opportunity […] -
The Learning Professional announces 2025 themes
With only the October and December journals left to publish this year, the Learning Forward publications team sets its sights on the 2025 issues of The Learning Professional. Informed by Learning Forward members, The Learning Professional writers and contributors, and the evolving needs of the field, we’ve selected the six […] -
Literacy success story highlights the power of professional learning
Principal Syeda Carter has a literacy success story to tell. It’s a tale of determination, learning, and overcoming obstacles that leads to achieving one of the most important goals of education: ensuring every child can read. At the root of this story is Carter’s participation in the Learning Forward Academy, […] -
What we learned about teacher wellness from our journal authors
Learning Forward celebrates the work of teachers all year long, but during Teacher Appreciation Week, we turn up the volume. This year we’re offering a free bundle of wellness-centered articles to show our appreciation for teachers everywhere. These short articles were written by expert contributors for the 2023 “Focus on […] -
The Learning Professional's most-read articles in 2023
‘Tis the season for list-making and reflection! With the close of this past year, we reflect on your interests as readers of The Learning Professional. In 2023, the trending themes were continuous improvement and educator turnover. Nearly half of the most popular 2023 articles originate from the April issue on […] -
Learning Forward Academy: 30 years of educator learning and growth
For three decades, the Learning Forward Academy has supported education leaders working to improve their schools and systems through a multiyear deep dive into professional learning. Since its inception, the academy has inspired and enhanced the professional learning work of more than 1,600 educators, and they serve as a testament […]
