Dive Brief:
- While teachers are often the focus of professional development plans, districts should also seek out opportunities around leadership and change management for administrators.
- Ed Tech Magazine reports that, because administrative leadership is so critical to achieving positive change, ongoing training around organizational development is key.
- A culture of innovation also relies on principals empowering teachers to take risks and recover well after failure.
Dive Insight:
A comprehensive professional development plan for people at all levels of the school community helps build a culture of lifelong learning that is sure to improve the organization and set a positive example for students. When it comes to innovation, the Every Student Succeeds Act provides more flexibility for districts and schools to try new things without the threat of such punitive consequences as those built into its predecessor, No Child Left Behind. Teachers should be encouraged to embrace this opportunity. And with strong principal leadership, it could lead to positive changes in classrooms across the country when it comes to day-to-day lessons as well as assessments.