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Stephanie Hirsh

Stephanie Hirsh retired in June 2019 after 31 years with Learning Forward, an international association of more than 13,000 educators committed to increasing student achievement through effective professional learning. Hirsh led the organization as its executive director for the last 13 years where she presented, published, and consulted on Learning Forward’s behalf across North America. Her books include Becoming a Learning Team, co-authored with Tracy Crow (Learning Forward, 2018), Becoming a Learning System, co-authored with Kay Psencik and Frederick Brown (Learning Forward, 2018); A Playbook for Professional Learning: Putting the Standards Into Action, co-authored with Shirley Hord (Learning Forward, 2012); and The Learning Educator: A New Era for Professional Learning, co-authored with Joellen Killion (NSDC, 2007). Hirsh wrote a column for The Learning Professional, Learning Forward’s bimonthly magazine, Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, The Record, The School Administrator, American School Board Journal, The High School Magazine, and Education Week. Hirsh has served on a number of advisory boards including Learning First Alliance, 2-Rev, Digital Promise, the University of Texas College of Education, and The Teaching Channel. She served three terms as a school board trustee in the Richardson (TX) Independent School District. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Staff Development Council, Master Trustee from the Texas School Board Association, and was named a Distinguished Alumna by the University of North Texas.

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    The purpose of a teacher evaluation system must be to help teachers achieve their greatest potential — that’s the bottom line. In more than three decades working with teachers, I have rarely met a teacher who has lost interest in learning more in order to better serve students. Yes, I […]
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    In their 2012 Annual Conference keynote address, Michael Fullan and Andy Hargreaves discussed the major tenets of their book, Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School (2012). The ideas at the heart of their book are the foundation of our commitment to effective collaboration as key to improving schools for […]
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    It is upsetting to me any time I hear a policymaker talk about what a waste of money professional development is. For example, Arne Duncan cites the $2.5 billion a year in federal funds for professional development and mentions that when teachers hear that figure, they either laugh or cry […]
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    The Story: A District Learns to Interpret Data Karl Kline was a school improvement field consultant for a regional educational service center. He had spent 10 years in this capacity after two decades as a successful principal and administrator in mid- to larger-sized districts in his state. He was respected […]
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    Student success depends on effective teaching— not just occasionally, but every day in every classroom and school. Effective teaching impacts students’ academic, physical, socialemotional, and behavioral well-being. Effective teaching occurs best when all education stakeholders, including parents, policymakers, community members, and educators, share responsibility for continuous improvement and student achievement. […]
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    Several years ago, I served on an advisory committee for Microsoft Partners in Learning, where I heard about the concept of the “big bet.” Microsoft placed big bets on investments promising the biggest returns. In 2007, NSDC (now Learning Forward) launched a strategic plan. The big bet that emerged as […]
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    More than 10 years ago, I wrote my first version of  The Power of One” for JSD. I described my personal journey of discovering how one person could make a huge difference in the face of what appeared as insurmountable challenges. I described ways in which I had made such […]
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    To date, more than 44 states have adopted the new Common Core State Standards, and I think about what this means for every teacher and student. I recall the summer I was part of a team writing a curriculum guide to accompany a newly adopted economics textbook. The team spent all summer translating state objectives into a semester course. […]
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    Explore how a deeper understanding and commitment to collective responsibility for student success can prepare a school to answer parents' concerns about teacher quality while enlisting parental advocates for collaborative professional learning.
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    Teacher evaluation: An opportunity to leverage learning at all levels By Stephanie Hirsh
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