Suzanne Bouffard
Senior Vice President, Communications & Publications
Suzanne Bouffard is senior vice president of communications and publications at Learning Forward. She is the editor of The Learning Professional, Learning Forward’s flagship publication. She also contributes to the Learning Forward blog and webinars. With a background in child development, she has a passion for making research and best practices accessible to educators, policymakers, and families. She has written for many national publications including The New York Times and the Atlantic, and previously worked as a writer and researcher at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Duke University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. She loves working with authors to help them develop their ideas and voices for publication.
All Articles
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Professional learning can unlock technology's potential
With recent leaps in technology, it can seem like new technology tools will either solve all of education’s problems or intensify them. But those kinds of extreme outcomes rarely come to pass, especially in ecosystems as complex as schools. The reality is far more nuanced, and that leaves educators with […] -
What educators need to know about AI: Q & A with Justin Reich
The emergence of text-generative artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT, presents both opportunities and challenges for schools. What do teachers and leaders need to know about these tools, and what role should they play in professional learning? The Learning Professional discussed these issues with Justin Reich, a learning scientist whose work […] -
How principals can ensure that every student succeeds
Ensuring that every student succeeds takes a shared commitment among all adults in a school and the system that houses it. Principals play a key role in leading and modeling that commitment. Through instructional leadership, professional learning, interactions with colleagues and students, and many other responsibilities, principals can prioritize equity […] -
How to translate Standards for Professional Learning into practice
One of the best ways to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it in multiple ways – listen, observe, study, practice. That approach to learning a new language also happens to be an effective way to learn and become proficient with Standards for Professional Learning. Reading the 11 […] -
Looking back helps us understand the path forward
Twenty years ago, this journal, which was then called JSD, was my first introduction to the unique considerations involved in evaluating professional learning. I was struck by how field leaders like Hayes Mizell, Joellen Killion, and Thomas Guskey provided guidance so elegant that the complex process of program evaluation seemed […] -
New roles, new challenges: Learning helps us thrive
I always enjoy asking people about the paths that have led them to their current jobs. More often than not, those paths have included some unexpected twists and turns. (My own path is no exception.) Even people who are working in the professions they dreamed about as children describe surprises […] -
Which way to the principal’s office?
Many professions have long runways to leadership, with mentorship and increasing levels of responsibility. Lead prosecutors start as assistant district attorneys, surgeons often complete a fellowship after residency, many business and nonprofit leaders move through the ranks of assistant director or vice president. In contrast, the path to school leadership […] -
When it comes to understanding students, we are always learners
The great promise of public schools is that they serve all children equitably and effectively. Doing so is essential and complex because students’ needs are so diverse. Ideally, educators have a broad knowledge base and skill set for meeting learners’ needs from Day One in the classroom. But it’s also […] -
7 articles to make the most of this year's professional learning
The start of the school year is a great time to take stock of your professional learning practices. Your strategic priorities are in focus and your calendars are set, but have you made sure your professional learning strategies are keeping pace with the latest research and insights? Have you made […] -
How SEL can reduce educator burnout
Amid rising levels of educator burnout and turnover (ERS, 2023a, b; Kurtz, 2022), there has been a lot of talk about prioritizing educator wellness. Wellness means different things to different people, but many experts agree that true wellness isn’t about simply going to a yoga class or even taking a […]
