Learning Forward

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Over the past two and a half years, I believe that I have grown as an individual and as a leader. The work with the Academy has helped to develop a level of knowledge about professional learning that I can only hope to continue to develop long after the Academy […]

Effective professional learning is about ongoing opportunities within the work that focuses on student outcomes. As a school leader, I continue to work with teachers to develop individual professional learning plans to address areas of need. I believe that the difference following the work in the Academy is that I […]

Through the work of the Academy, I have developed a strong belief that professional learning is central to any type of improvement plan for a school or district. Everything from the time spent on purposeful, student results-driven, job-embedded professional learning to the importance of funding for professional learning has come […]

Professional learning and coaching can result in discomfort. For years, teachers and principals have expected supervisors to simply tell them the ‘correct’ method or strategy; consequently, the amount of learning that has taken place has been inconsequential, as educators have expected a "one size fits all" professional development to address. […]

Fort Wayne Community Schools has embraced the concept of professional learning and has a very active partnership with Learning Forward. I have witnessed the transformation over the past several years. Our leadership meetings are no longer a lengthy “sit and get” PowerPoint presentation. During leadership meetings, administrators are now regularly […]