Educators begin their professional learning during their pre-service training at the university. It continues throughout their careers. They remain learners as their students learn. Society's expectations of what its young people need to know change as the world does. Educators must respond to the changing expectations by remaining current on new information and research about how students learn and the content they need.
Professional development is how they remain current.
Educators focus their professional development on issues of improving student learning. Their choices of professional development must align with the district's goals. Their choices must also support their need for deeper knowledge of how students learn, up to date content knowledge and research-based instruction. To positively impact student learning, educators must have deep knowledge and advanced skills. Educators carefully analyze data about both teaching practices and student learning to make choices about professional development.