We often ask educators about their “Why.” What we should be asking is what is their “How?” This discussion focuses on how pedagogy can drive purpose and reignite passion for pedagogy that directly supports student growth.
So often, professional development is designed with one glaring error—no educator input. Assuming that the needs of teachers are all the same, the one-size-fits-all model is presented as a “what to implement” without checking the temperature of the staff to determine if they need something added to their workload. I have sat on the educator side of the aisle for almost three decades and seen this type of training fall flat as a one-time, zero follow-up and follow-through, relegated to handouts in a folder, while I attempted to integrate the “next great thing” into an already jam-packed schedule. My one wish was that an administrator would sit with me and ask one simple question.
“What do you need to be more effective?”
That simple question addresses so many things. Burnout, exhaustion, frustration, pedagogical knowledge development, workloads that feel overwhelming, assessments of and for learning, classroom management, curriculum design, school support—the list goes on. Creating positive and meaningful change for educators reignites the passion that can erode over time under the weight of all that teachers are asked to do.
So, I chose to start Learning Paths. Consulting with empathy and a focus on championing teachers. Actionable, measurable results that drive improved student outcomes. All discussions start with “What do your teachers need?” From there, we design programs that speak to educators, for educators, with improved classroom culture as the goal. We shift the conversation from a teacher’s “Why?” towards the more important “How.”
It is not about what to add. Instead, we focus on how to evolve teacher practices to meet where they are right now and where they want to take their classes.
The Learning Paths Approach to Professional Development
- Identify “Friction Points”: Pinpoint specific instructional habits that contribute to burnout without adding proportional value to student growth.
- Design autonomous experiences: construct lesson frameworks (such as demonstrations of understanding, systems for formative and summative assessments, peer feedback loops, and student-driven inquiry) that empower students to drive the lesson, reducing real-time teacher workload and fatigue.
- Leverage Strategic Scaffolding: Implement “low-lift, high-yield” strategies that support diverse student needs while streamlining the feedback and grading process.
- Cultivate a Sustainable Passion: Develop a personalized Instructional Sustainability Plan to protect educator enthusiasm for teaching against the pressures of the modern educational landscape.
Our LPC Services page details these options.
Let’s Talk About Your Teachers and A Path Forward For Schools.