A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 24, 2016

There has been a great deal of knocks on professional development as of late and rightfully so. More often than not, professional development is something that is done to educators as opposed to an experience that they truly value for growth. Learning is the ultimate goal for our students, not development.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

No matter your position in education, you have gone through some form of professional development. In many cases, the act of being “developed” comes in a variety of standard types such as workshops, mandated PD days, presentations, conferences, book studies, or keynotes. Below are a few lessons learned.

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ED Surge

MARCH 27, 2025

In a survey of more than 1,000 public school teachers done through Samsungs partners at DonorsChoose a whopping 96 percent said AI will become an intrinsic part of education within the next decade. The basis of any AI education would have to be rooted in critical thinking, he explains, how to ask good questions and evaluate the answers.

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ED Surge

JANUARY 25, 2023

As a classroom teacher, I always tried to improve my practice by reading academic and practice-based articles, attending trainings and connecting with fellow educators to share resources and troubleshoot challenges. Despite my love for learning, I strongly disliked most professional development sessions.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 11, 2015

The potential is there for schools and educators to empower students to take more ownership of their learning. Professional Development – As I work with schools and districts across the country on BYOD initiatives, I can honestly say that this is one area where mistakes are made.

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A Principal's Reflections

JULY 12, 2020

The COVID19 pandemic unearthed many harsh realities for education across the globe. Inadequate WIFI and the availability of computers at home for kids to use for learning caught many educators off guard. Drive-by professional development did not work in the past.

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Digital Promise

MARCH 10, 2022

The pandemic has demanded a high level of adaptability in education that micro-credentials can support. To support educators in accessing quality and relevant professional learning tools at the beginning of the pandemic, we curated a list of micro-credentials that could be earned with a remote or hybrid classroom.

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ED Surge

JANUARY 27, 2023

It’s September 2021 and as one of the district’s instructional technology content leaders, I have finally been given the green light to host in-person professional development (PD) for this group of eager teachers after months of meeting online. Teachers trickle in as I set out muffins and candy at each table.

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A Psychology Teacher Writes

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Evidence Based Education blog. Review of Education, rev3.3226. Journal of Teacher Education, 67. Inconvenient truths about teacher learning: towards professional development 3.0. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61. Why aren’t we doing instructional coaching even though everyone else seems to be?

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ED Surge

MARCH 19, 2025

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce found more than 43,000 individuals with active teaching credentials were not employed as teachers or staff members in a public school. hoping to one day become an educator. In 2016, I moved to the U.S.,

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A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 1, 2015

Ensure ongoing professional development – I cannot overstate the importance of this suggestion enough. Teachers need training on how to develop pedagogically sound lessons and quality assessments aligned to higher standards. Professional development should be ongoing and embedded throughout the school year.

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ED Surge

MARCH 26, 2025

Looking back on my educational journey, I recently reflected on my classroom experiences from kindergarten to fourth grade. The summer before I entered the fourth grade, my mother informed me that I would be attending a new school in my same community with one caveat: it was a class in the gifted and talented education (GATE) program.

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ED Surge

APRIL 9, 2025

Many educators have begun exploring these tools to streamline administrative tasks from composing parent emails to analyzing assessment data and differentiating instruction. Yet, some educators still see AI only as a tool for efficiency and view student use as cheating. But we must also address teacher readiness to succeed.

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The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 27, 2025

That happened after a January column I wrote about a prominent scholars critique of the evidence for including children with disabilities in general education classrooms. The director of education at the Learning Disabilities Association of America weighed in, as did the commissioner of special education research at the U.S.

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TCI

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Civic education is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, yet recent evaluations reveal significant gaps in how it is taught across the nation. history instruction is essential for developing informed, engaged citizens who can navigate the complexities of modern society. High-quality civics and U.S.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 17, 2021

At the individual level, intrinsic motivation drives educators to actively seek opportunities that support their diverse learning interests and needs. Professional development days, mostly packed into the beginning of the academic year, are still the preferred mode to support staff while adhering to specific mandates.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 30, 2020

Educators have taken a critical lens as to why they teach the way they do and how it can be done more effectively. While it is excellent that educators now have a variety of options at their disposal, there is a growing concern that has to be addressed if learning is the goal. Be sure to check out my entire #remotelearning series.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Inclusion is essential for special education (SPED) because it promotes the social and academic development of students with disabilities, fosters a sense of belonging, and prepares them for life outside of school. It aligns with legal and ethical imperatives, is often cost-effective, and encourages teacher development.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Developing reflective skills is central to students’ academic and professional development within a discipline. The good news is that educators do not have to reinvent the wheel. However, educators can integrate opportunities to reflect throughout a lesson. Intentionality is key. & Clayton, P.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 23, 2022

If it’s true that life is a test, then the COVID-19 pandemic represents the most challenging one education and everyone in the field has ever faced. If we burn out teachers our education system will never meet the needs of learners. That means no meetings, phone calls, emails, or mandated professional development.

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 12, 2024

No matter where I go, I get the same message from educators on their desire for practical strategies. This quote is important to educators because it highlights the importance of moving from theory to practice. Educators need to be shown how to put these into practice. Eric, we know the why.

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A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

Recently the district asked me to be a part of their professional development day, which consisted of seven different learning strands specific to the needs and interests of their teachers. During a planning call prior, I was asked to work with special education, math, and reading teachers in particular.

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 22, 2023

Additionally, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that students who used laptops in the classroom were more likely to say that they enjoyed school and that they were motivated to learn. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 42(4), 357-377. American Educational Research Journal, 50(3), 568-596.

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 12, 2021

It is the job of an educator to help them find and unleash it so that they can find success in the classroom and beyond. Passion surveys Finding out what really motivates and inspires kids can be one of the best uses of time an educator or school engages in if the act sparks changes to practice.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 31, 2021

Continue to advance learning and equity in your schools with professional development. We have seen so many educators innovative their practice in such a short period of time, especially regarding the purposeful use of technology. Prioritize time, standards, and SEL needs. Know and appreciate the impact you have.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 14, 2016

In my opinion that is the case in education. Educators and stakeholders alike have been brainwashed into thinking that a successful school or district is one who achieves through quantitative measures. If it doesn’t, then why is precious time spent on developing and enforcing it? What supporting evidence do we have?

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 17, 2020

The COVID19 pandemic has radically disrupted both society and education as we know it. Through it all, though, we have seen triumph and perseverance that serve as powerful motivating forces that can be used to collectively develop a new normal that might even be better. Hence, it is crucial to start to develop critical supports now.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 4, 2020

For more information on various hybrid models, check out this detailed piece from Education Week. If you are already in a hybrid model, time can still be added with approval from the Board of Education. They should not be mandated to attend meetings, participate in PLC's, meet with parents, or attend professional development.

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Pedagogy Professional Development Leadership Teaching 514

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 25, 2020

The pandemic has really put a strain on educators, yet they continue to rise to the occasion on behalf of kids. The majority of educators fall into the latter. If you can't, consider developing a schedule where administrators and other support staff can fill them in lieu of teachers. Something has to give.

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A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 14, 2021

Packed with lesson ideas, AR/VR apps, and professional development this next-generation online portal can help all educators unleash creativity to trigger meaningful learning amongst all learners. In the words of Ken Robinson, “Curiosity is the engine of achievement.”

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ED Surge

JANUARY 21, 2025

Its the best-kept secret in education, to be a school librarian, Rhue says with pride. I had earned my masters in the art of teaching elementary education. My mantra now is: I'm a successful educator and businesswoman. I'm a second-year doctoral student in educational leadership. I'm an educator. Its a treat.

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A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 13, 2022

There are many digital tools available to educators these days, which often creates an overwhelming feeling. Professional Learning Typical means of professional development (PD) such as drive-by events, one-off workshops, or book studies, while having value, will not lead to impactful virtual learning at scale.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 19, 2018

Historically, however, professional development has been limited to periodic workshops and training that focus mostly on administrative, operational, and compliance issues. Research has consistently shown that professional learning that leads to school improvement and meaningful changes to practice is ongoing and job-embedded.

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Leadership Professional Development Pedagogy High School 365

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 22, 2023

With the suggestions in hand, the leaders were empowered to review what we had seen and my recommendations to determine the focus for an upcoming professional development day I would be facilitating. Feedback is a critical catalyst for professional learning and growth.

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Digital Promise

JULY 24, 2023

Students and educators from Bristol Township School District, in partnership with Bristol Cares, built a student leadership and community mentorship program

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A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 8, 2020

For the better part of my educational career, I always referred to any type of learning to assist me as a teacher or administrator as professional development (PD). The experiences where I had some level of choice were the most meaningful to me and resulted in real changes to my educational practice.

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ED Surge

APRIL 8, 2025

In elementary school especially, teachers often carry math fears picked up during their own education. Its a step in the right direction, says Yasemin Copur-Gencturk, an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California. Its why some instructional coaches have taken on the label math therapist.

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