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Creative Sparks

Innovations fuel a new vision for professional learning.

By Learning Forward
February 2013
Stephanie Hirsh: What is innovative professional development — or iPD — and how does it differ from traditional professional development? Carina Wong: We think about iPD as creating more effective learning systems for teachers, schools, and districts. We know that many professional learning opportunities are not having an impact on teacher practice. Traditional professional learning seems to be one-size-fits-all, and it’s often something done “to” teachers. We think teachers need to have ownership of their growth and to develop both individually and as part of a collective team. iPD uses data about where individual teachers are in their professional practice to identify where they need support, gives teachers access to multiple models of delivery to fit their learning styles, and provides them with continuous feedback.

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Authors

Stephanie Hirsh

Stephanie Hirsh (stephanie.hirsh@learningforward.org) is Learning Forward’s executive director.

Q&A with Carina Wong

Carina Wong, deputy director of education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, speaks with Learning Forward Executive Director Stephanie Hirsh about the foundation’s investment in iPD.

Carina Wong

Carina Wong is deputy director of education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She leads the foundation’s program work on teacher supports related to standards, assessment, curriculum, and instruction and on student supports related to games as learning and assessment, creating a college-going culture, and academic motivation and engagement.

Wong has worked in education policy at the national, state, and local levels for 15 years. She was director of the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, where she implemented No Child Left Behind reforms for the state.

Previously, she worked in the Philadelphia School District as part of a $150 million Annenberg Challenge Grant and served as director of youth policy and education at the Washington, D.C.-based National Center on Education and the Economy.

Most recently, Wong was executive director of the Chez Panisse Foundation, where she led that organization in addressing a range of issues such as implementing a districtwide healthy meal program and developing tools to replicate a national hands-on kitchen and garden educational program.

Districts Participating in iPD Challenge

Location Number of students % free/reduced lunch Number of teachers
Fresno, Calif. 75,000 83% 3,100
Long Beach, Calif. (former Broad Prize winner) 85,000 69% 3,400
Bridgeport, Conn. 21,000 98% 1,380
New Haven, Conn. 20,000 73% 1,570
Jefferson County, Colo. 86,000 33% 4,870

Watch the Video 

Teachers at Their Best at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f21r1HE6dNQ&feature=youtu.be

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Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.

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