Nader Twal
Program Administrator for Professional Learning and Curriculum Services
Nader Twal serves as program administrator for professional learning and curriculum services in the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development of Long Beach Unified School District. In this role, he supports and coordinates interdepartmental efforts to vision, configure, evaluate and scale a coherent and comprehensive district-wide professional development (PD) and talent management system. He also plays a vital role in supporting a comprehensive equity curriculum audit alongside the district Excellence and Equity Coordinator, in addition to coordinating districtwide, equity-centered learning.
All Articles
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It’s not enough to not be racist
When I taught high school, I always started my days early. I was usually in my classroom by 6 a.m. to prepare for the students who arrived at 7:30 a.m. for our first-period class. It was a routine that I grew to cherish because I was able to ease into […] -
‘Where are the Black scientists?’ my son asked
During a recent car ride, my youngest son, who is African American, casually said, “Mommy, white people are better than Black people.” My wife’s heart dropped as she mustered a response. “Why would you say that, honey?” she asked him. Without missing a beat, our son said, “Because there are […] -
What I wish I had known as a new teacher
I remember my first year of teaching high school English language arts in northern California in fall 1997. I was hired three months before I finished my teaching credential program and only two months into student teaching. The school where I was hired had suddenly found itself with a large […] -
Standards help educators reach each and every child
As a reflective practitioner, I have often found it helpful to consider the history of the traditions and practices that we hold dear in education — including those that might be rooted in troubling histories. As calls for social justice grow louder and the imperative of equity grows more urgent, […] -
How Learning Forward’s new Standards for Professional Learning intersect with Federal education policy
In celebration of Learning Forward’s April 25th release of its revised Standards for Professional Learning, we are pleased to provide you with this special briefing that will focus on how these standards can and should strengthen federal education policy and investment around professional learning. You will hear from policymakers, researchers, […] -
The right questions can sharpen our focus on equity
Stories have the power to humanize those around us. They provide insight and data that numbers alone can’t communicate. I have often spoken of this power in the professional learning I lead, and I did so in the last issue of this journal. But what I never realized until recently […] -
Leading and learning for equity is a collective journey
I never wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up, let alone a district-level professional learning administrator. I certainly never expected to be writing a column for this magazine about how to support the professional growth of equity-centered school leaders. But I always knew education was central to […] -
Want To Create Lasting Change? Listen First, Design Second
The educational landscape around standards, assessment, professional development, and funding is changing at a rapid pace. How can education institutions — and educators — respond with a balance of urgency and coherence? How do we temper the need for risk-taking and innovation with the responsibility to deliver on the promise […]
