Shifting from searching for support to using evidence-based tools to advance high-quality professional learning

Elizabeth Foster is the senior vice president of research and strategy at Learning Forward. She leads the organization’s research efforts for partnerships, programs, and fundraising. Elizabeth co-wrote the Standards for Professional Learning (2022) with Tracy Crow and now facilitates learning sessions about the standards and develops resources that support their use and implementation.

Machel Mills-Miles is vice president, standards implementation & outreach at Learning Forward. She advances the conceptualization and development of tools and resources to support the use of revised Standards for Professional Learning. Mills-Miles formerly served as senior learning strategist at BloomBoard, facilitating the use of micro-credentials to support professional learning plans in district, state, and regional contexts. Previously, she worked at the Tennessee Department of Education to lead a statewide pilot for micro-credentials and playing a key role in Tennessee’s Diversity Innovation Grant, Human Capital Network, Teacher Leader Network, New Teacher Induction Framework, and Professional Learning Systems Framework. She worked in Metro Nashville Public Schools as a lead coach for literacy, helping to support more than 120 coaches districtwide, and earlier as instructional/literacy coach in direct support of teachers. She began her education career as an English Language Arts teacher. Mills-Miles holds degrees in cognitive science from Northwestern University and teaching and learning in urban schools from Vanderbilt University. Mills-Miles maintains peace and balance by connecting with family and nature.

Paul Fleming serves as chief learning officer at Learning Forward. His current areas of focus include leading the effective implementation of the Standards for Professional Learning and corresponding tools, the expansion of our professional services and leadership and learning series teams, and multiple consulting projects with states and districts to increase educator and leader effectiveness through student-focused, high quality professional learning.