Professional Learning Video Series · Inspired to Learn: Kansas Stories

A Message from the LFKS President

Jo McFadden
Jenni Donohoo has written two books and many articles about the importance of Collective Teacher Efficacy. Collective Teacher Efficacy is the belief of teachers in their ability to positively affect students and their success. We are better together as we focus on building Collective Efficacy by intentionally increasing our collective knowledge and skills. John Hattie has ranked 252 influences related to student learning and achievement. Collective Teacher Efficacy is Number ONE on the list with a 1.57 effect size. As educators, we want to embrace Collective Teacher Efficacy and boost student achievement as we move from Me to We.
Having a clear positive vision for the road ahead will give us power to make change. We keep that vision alive and reinforce the vision. If we can see the vision, we can create the vision. Jon Gordon wrote a book called “One Word”. He talks about having a yearly “One Word” as our individual driving force. If everyone else on your team has “One Word” all of these words come together to create a positive vision with Collective Teacher Efficacy.
So what word is going to drive you to be your best? Here are questions for you to ponder.
- It’s been said that busyness makes us stop caring about our passions.
- As you think about your life, what causes the most busyness?…read more
Series Premiere! Inspired to Learn: Kansas Stories
By Vicki Bechard, LFKS Secretary and Dayna Richardson, LFKS Executive Director
Learning Forward Kansas is proud to announce that the complete professional learning series: Inspired to Learn: Kansas Stories is available on the LFKS website for immediate use by all Kansas educators. This free, five video resource is accompanied by a facilitation guide for each video to create the most beneficial experience for users seeking to achieve effective professional learning in their school or district. Facilitation guides offer resources and strategies to enhance the video experience, modeling collaborative …read more
Professional Learning in the News
Six Features of Effective Professional Development
Why Following Them May Still Fall Short of Teachers' Needs
by Emily Perry
A consensus is emerging from numerous research studies about what makes teacher professional development (PD) effective. The Department for Education used the characteristics of effective PD, according to these studies, as the basis for its Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development. Many organisations now use similar sets of characteristics to design and evaluate PD activities...read more

Connections in Kansas
Kansas Learning First Alliance Brings Membership Together
News Release from KLFA
•October 17, 2019•
The Kansas Learning First Alliance met October 17, 2019 at KNEA. Attendees were welcomed by KLFA Chair Dr. Laurie Curtis. Presentations included supporting public schools, Kansas teacher retention, safety in an electronic environment, and efforts to fight vaping. The KLFA Member Spotlight featured the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence and the Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented and Creative. KLFA members also discussed the importance of voter turnout in 2019 and 2020 and how to increase student engagement in elections.
Learning Forward Kansas Executive Director, Dayna Richardson…
News from KSDE
Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, as well as Kansas State Department of Education staff members and a few Kansas students, welcome you back to school!
Connections with Learning Forward
Learning Forward Colorado Invites You….

Frederick Brown
Spring Learning Institute
•April 2, 2020•
Learning Forward Colorado’s upcoming institute features Fred Brown, Deputy Executive Director of Learning Forward. Teacher leaders, coaches, district leaders, principals, and system leaders will benefit from attending. The event is titled “Becoming a Learning System.” Click here to learn more about this opportunity being held at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

~New! KESA Facilitation Guide PDF
Learning Forward Kansas has developed a Facilitation Guide to promote dialogue that increases understanding of KESA and the rubrics.
This resource is full of strategies (also known as protocols) to organize and facilitate professional learning discussions with educators and stakeholders that lead to success for all.