Article Summary Trust matters in schools, but trust alone doesn’t scale. This post explains why trusting teachers without providing clear structures often leads to inconsistency, confusion, and burnout. It explores what trust without structure looks like in practice, why structure isn’t about control, and how aligned systems allow trust to actually function across classrooms, schools, and districts. Trust is essential, … Read More
3 Ways to Know if Your PD is Working
Professional Development (PD) is everywhere. Workshops. Webinars. Book studies. PLCs. You’ve probably been through it all. But here’s the question that nobody seems to ask out loud: “Is any of this actually working?” Schools spend hours (and let’s be honest, a lot of money) on PD every year. But if it’s not leading to better outcomes for teachers or students…what’s … Read More
The 5 Things Every Professional Development Should Include
Planning PD for your staff can be stressful. You want to make sure that the time and resources are well spent, your teachers are getting actionable value from it, and that you’re getting what you asked for from your PD provider. Working with schools and districts across the country has allowed our team to create and develop high-quality professional development … Read More
The Hidden Gaps in Your Professional Development Plan (And How to Fix Them)
Let’s be honest: Professional development planning is tough. You’re juggling state mandates, teacher needs, budget constraints, and dozens of competing priorities. So, it’s no surprise that even the best school leaders sometimes overlook critical gaps that quietly undermine their PD efforts. Here’s the good news: Once you uncover these gaps, you can fix them. What we’ve found is that most … Read More
How Do I Know If I Am Ready To Lead A PD Session?
TL;DR: Presenting at an education conference or district professional development day can be scary. You are the only one who can tell your story. You can design professional learning that informs, inspires, and invites change. I still remember the first time I led a teacher professional development session. My district had done a call for presenters for a teacher institute … Read More