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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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    I love connecting people who care about the same thing or can help each other with a particular task or goal. So, as you can imagine, I love networking. However, you may be surprised to learn that I am an introvert. I tried to overcome this for years until I discovered […]
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    Learning Forward's work has long emphasized the role of effective collaboration in improving educator practices and student results. The idea is embedded in our beliefs and explicit in the Standards for Professional Learning, where the Learning Communities standard states: "Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students occurs within […]
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    The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulations for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) . The comment period for the regulations is now open, and I encourage educators to offer their input. I'd like to highlight three points related to professional learning that offer cause for celebration and opportunities […]
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    I recently met a woman who is leaving a school system after 14 years to work for a technical assistance agency. She had limited professional learning leadership experience beyond the district and wondered what to expect. We talked about how she might prepare herself. A new learning leader’s first priority […]
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    Literacy proficiency is foundational to every child's success in school. Students take English language arts courses in every grade and apply their literacy skills in every course. Lacking literacy skills, students fall behind in all subjects. Every teacher is a literacy teacher, and every teacher is a learner. The educator's […]
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    At a learning session I attended recently, Michael Fullan announced that, after reviewing John Hattie's research on practices with the most significant impact in schools, collective efficacy is the new winner. Once again, we have evidence that harnessing the power of the group rather than relying solely on the individual […]
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    Literacy proficiency is foundational to every child’s success in school. Students take English language arts courses in every grade and apply their literacy skills in every course. Lacking literacy skills, students fall behind in all subjects. Every teacher is a literacy teacher, and every teacher is a learner. The educator’s […]
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    As the race for the White House continues to gain momentum, the various campaigns are, not surprisingly, focused on issues such as national security and the economy. At the same time, national polling data show that Americans remain interested in improving education and, in particular, how to modernize and elevate […]
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    Have you ever wondered about the impetus for professional learning standards? Here is my view of how professional learning has come to be seen as one of the most powerful strategies for ensuring a great education for all students. In the early 1990s, new accountability systems demonstrated the inequities of […]
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    Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed the Every Student Succeeds Act by a 359-64 vote. While there is much to explore and discuss in the bill, Learning Forward's advocacy efforts related to the reauthorization of ESEA have concentrated solely on professional development. We believe that ensuring a clear […]
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