Dr. Guskey emphasized that professional learning must be evaluated beyond surface-level satisfaction surveys. His model includes:

1. Participant Reaction – How do educators feel about the training?
2. Learning – What knowledge and skills did they acquire?
3. Organizational Support and Change – Did the school or district provide the necessary resources and leadership support?
4. Application of Learning – Are teachers successfully implementing what they learned?
5. Student Outcomes – Did the professional learning lead to measurable improvements in student learning?

A critical takeaway from the conversation was the importance of structured time and leadership support in ensuring professional learning translates into classroom impact. Dr. Guskey highlighted that without strong principal engagement and follow-up opportunities, even the best training can fall flat.

Actionable Steps for School Leaders:

• Plan Backward: Start with the desired student learning outcomes and design professional learning experiences that directly support them.
• Engage School Leaders: Principals must be actively involved in professional development, ensuring that teachers receive ongoing support.
• Create Structured Collaboration Time: Time alone isn’t enough—leaders should facilitate peer discussions where teachers reflect on implementation challenges and successes.
• Use Multiple Measures of Success: Go beyond state assessments and use formative classroom data to track progress.
• Ensure Quick Feedback Loops: Teachers need to see early evidence that new strategies are working within two weeks to stay committed.

By following these steps, districts can create professional learning environments that lead to real, lasting change in both teaching practice and student success.

Check out the full episode here.