Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
So You’ve Heard of Curriculum-Based Professional Learning — Now What?
Presenters: Michelle Bowman, Elizabeth Foster and Shannon Bogle
SESSION FULL:
Next CBPL opportunity: Our upcoming Curriculum-Based Professional Learning Symposium in April.
When: Feb. 25, 2026, 1:00 PM ET.
Curious about curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL) but not sure what it really looks like in practice? This free, 90-minute virtual workshop breaks it down by showing how professional learning can be tightly connected to the curriculum educators use every day and to standards for effective adult learning. Participants will explore how CBPL designs and strategies help teachers make better use of strong instructional materials and expand students’ opportunities to learn. You’ll also join thoughtful conversations with peers to reflect on how this particular kind of professional learning could strengthen both teaching practice and student learning in your own context.
Outcomes:
- Learn the alignment between curriculum-based professional learning and the Standards for Professional Learning (especially Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; Culture of Collaborative Inquiry; and Implementation)
- Hear how CBPL helps educators know how to take advantage of everything a high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum and instructional materials has to offer so that students’ access and opportunity to learn are maximized.
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with peers and reflect on how CBPL might improve both student learning and professional practice.
Presenters
Michelle A. Bowman is senior vice president of networks and continuous improvement at Learning Forward. She supports state and local education agencies committed to professional development redesign, especially through the strategy of networks and communities of practice. She also oversees the development of content and learning designs that support organizations' capacity to engage in continuous improvement processes. With 30 years in public education, Michelle served in leadership at the district, campus, and classroom levels before joining Learning Forward. Michelle has an Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University. She co-authored Teacher Professional Development in the Digital Age: Design and Implementation of Learning without Limits in Technology in the Classroom: How It Can Improve Teaching and Student Learning in American Schools (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017) with Learning Forward Executive Director (retired) Stephanie Hirsh.
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.
Shannon Bogle is the senior director for networks and the academy at Learning Forward. She designs networks and content, builds capacity in state and district educators through network coaching, and manages the strategy and operations for the Academy.
1:00 - 2:30 ET
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