Teachers know great professional development when we see it. It resonates and makes sense. It is actionable, preferably right away. Implementing ideas from PD improves our practice and our students’ learning. We know it when we see it—but what is the best way to plan for it? And how do organizers, participants, and school leaders know it made a difference?

This episode focuses on the Project Zero Classroom Summer Institutes that our guest, Jim Reese, helped coordinate for many years. Before listening, we recommend our first interview with Jim for an overview of Project Zero and its mission.

Jim lives in Washington, DC. After a long career teaching in international and U.S. schools, serving as Director of Studies and founding the Professional Development Collaborative at Washington International School, he now works as a consultant. He has long been affiliated with Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Guiding Question: “What are some ways to make the learning experiences at professional development conferences more apt to be integrated into the teaching practices of participants?”

Main Topics:

• How PD conference organizers can ensure better participant follow through in applying their learning to their practices
• How teachers can make the most of conferences and design a pathway to carry their learning into their classroom practices
• How school administrators can support their teachers attending PD conferences to make the most of their learning
• What professional learning might look like going forward

Related Resources:

Greg Moncada Episode 94 interview on “Appraising Teacher Performance”

Harvard Project Zero Website

Jim Reese Episode 81 interview on “Fostering Lasting Change in Schools”

Justin Hardman Episode 65 interview on “Teacher Professional Learning”

Washington International School Summer Institute for Teachers (WISSIT) Website

Jim's Contact Information: LinkedIn

Recorded April 14th, 2025.

Categories: PD | Leadership | Trends

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Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.