| At the year’s midpoint, the 10 most-read Professional Learning News articles from the first half of 2025 looked at building sustainable principal pipelines, coaching a hesitant teacher, fuel for effective professional learning communities, new leadership at Learning First Alliance, and more. Below are the newsletter’s top articles. |
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The Wallace Foundation
From March 31: When builders are making their plans, they aren’t just thinking about completing the project now — they’re considering how to make a structure that will last well into the future. A new report shows this approach can apply to how districts create structures for recruiting and supporting principals as well. Building on prior research, it found that planning for longevity early on is key to creating principal pipelines that last — and it provides a framework for doing so. Implementing for Sustainability: Principal Pipelines in Four Districts from Vanderbilt Peabody College and Policy Studies Associates is the final report of its study of Wallace’s Principal Pipeline Learning Community (2019-2023). Read More |
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| How to make book studies a rich professional learning experience
Learning Forward Texas
From Feb. 10: Once you’ve chosen a great book — whether it’s a favorite educational title or something new — the real question is: What comes next? How do you move beyond simply reading to create learning experiences that leave a lasting impact on your work and your team? Using a few innovative approaches, book studies can be more engaging, collaborative, and actionable — and also model a culture of continuous professional growth. Read More |
| How to start a coaching conversation with a hesitant teacher
Learning Forward
From Feb. 17: Sharron Helmke, an ICF-certified coach, wrote: I’m hearing from many coaches that they are feeling pressure to reach more teachers and deepen the impact of their coaching. Unfortunately, telling coaches to reach more teachers ignores the fact that some teachers are naturally hesitant to engage with a coach. Because effective coaching requires a true partnership, coaches need a variety of ways to invite teachers into conversations focused on solving problems of practice for which the teacher feels a genuine sense of urgency. Here are three questions that have proven successful in opening a coaching conversation with some of our most hesitant teachers. Read More |
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Learning Forward Texas
From Jan 20: “After attending and presenting at the recent Learning Forward Annual Conference, the importance of developing learner personas has been on my mind,” wrote Kathryn Laster. “Like many other professional learning leaders, I often design workshops and sessions that align with my personal learning preferences. However, creating learner personas allows me to step outside my own tendencies and design learning experiences that are more inclusive and adaptable to diverse participant needs.” Read More |
Learning Forward
From March 17: Everyone likes to feel valuable, needed, and in-demand, and it’s understandable that coaches may perceive being needed as evidence of their impact of coaching. Too often, however, it may be a sign that teachers are overly dependent on the coach’s advice, judgment, or praise of their teaching, which stands in the way of teachers developing a strong sense of self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to understand and meet the needs of all students. Here are three tips to coach in ways that foster teacher self-efficacy and support a sustainable coaching practice. Read More |
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From June 9: Leading a school has always been immensely challenging but also critically important. Fortunately, we know definitively that a great principal actually makes learning possible for the students and teachers in the building, according to Paul Fleming, Learning Forward’s Chief Learning Officer. “Moreover, thanks to sustained research efforts from The Wallace Foundation and Vanderbilt University, we know what makes a principal effective and how investing in that leader’s skills and knowledge not only positively lifts up the entire school but also improves principal retention.” Read More |
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| Learning First Alliance names new leader
Learning First Alliance
From April 7: The Learning First Alliance has appointed Danny Carlson executive director, succeeding Richard Long. Carlson brings extensive experience in education policy and advocacy to his new position. Most recently, he served as deputy assistant secretary of policy and programs in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We look forward to Danny’s leadership and guidance as Learning First Alliance continues its important work — championing public education, amplifying the voices of educators, families, and school leaders, and supporting the efforts of our member organizations to strengthen teaching, learning, and student success,” said Frederick Brown, chair of the Learning First Alliance and president and CEO of Learning Forward. Read More |
| 2025 Annual Conference keynotes announced
Learning Forward
Each year, Learning Forward Annual Conference keynote speakers infuse the gathering with energy and perspectives about why continuous learning is fundamental to our future. This year’s keynote speakers are Cornelius Minor on Monday, Dec. 8; Shane Safir and Sawsan Jaber on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and; Dyane Smokorowski and Rob Dickson on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Learn more about the 2025 Annual Conference keynote speakers, thought leader speakers, and preconference presenters on the conference website. The event’s Early Bird registration discount provides an opportunity to save up to $720. Register by July 15 to take advantage of this special pricing. Learn More & Register |
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Learning Forward
What works in professional learning? Measuring the progress of professional learning initiatives on school improvement and student outcomes is a high-interest topic among educators and decision-makers. Grounded in our commitment to evaluation, our newest issue of The Learning Professional offers strategies and examples of a wide range of approaches. Also, don’t miss a feature about our leadership team readiness tool, the Learning Forward staff’s summer reading and listening recommendations, and much more. Read the latest issue: Measuring learning |
| We need your input to help advance research!
Learning Forward
As part of a national research effort, we’re gathering examples of professional learning programs or practices that help teachers use technology to strengthen instruction. These examples can come from schools, districts, regional agencies, or state departments. Please consider helping in this effort by using this form to share programs/practices with which you are familiar. The form spells out specifics about the kinds of programs we’re looking for and takes about 5 minutes to complete. Deadline for response is Friday, July 11. Use this form to complete your response. |
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