Table of Contents

Preface by Peter DeWitt
Introduction
1. A New Vision for Professional Learning
Who Owns the Learning?
Teachers as Learners and Leaders
Tool Spotlight: Google Forms for Soliciting Teacher Feedback
Leadership Profile: Michelle Nebel
2. Lead Learners Model the Way
The Leadership Gap
Time: Stop Spending; Start Investing
Tool Spotlight: Today′s Meet
Blogging to Lead, Blogging to Learn
Tool Spotlight: Edublogs, Blogger, Wordpress
Leadership Profile: Jimmy Casas
3. Personalizing Learning Plans in Action
Empower Staff to Design Their Own Learning
Designing the Personalized Roadmap
Expanding Boundaries
Tool Spotlight: Tweetdeck
Tool Spotlight: The Official Chat List
Leadership Profile: Laura Fleming
4. Developing the 21st Century Professional Learning Mindset
Professional Learning is Collaborative
Job-Embedded Professional Learning and the Role of Coaching
Professional Learning Communities
Professional Learning is Engaging
Professional Learning is Relevant and On Demand
Tool Spotlight: Voxer
Leadership Profile: Tom Whitford
5. Shifting the Focus Forward
Common Core Shifts Require Shifts in Professional Learning
From Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side to Meddler in the Middle
A Call to Action
References

About the Author

Thomas C. Murray serves as the state and district digital learning director for the Alliance for Excellent Education located in Washington, DC. He has testified before the United States Congress and works alongside that body, the US Department of Education and state departments of education, corpo­rations, and school districts throughout the country to implement digital learning while leading Future Ready, Project 24, and Digital Learning Day. Murray’s experiences in K–12 digital leadership, which include implementing a 1:1 program, BYOD, blended learning, and a K–12 cyber school where he served as the director of technology and cyber education for the Quakertown Community School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, have been recognized nationally.

 

A former school principal, Murray is passionate about proper digital learning implementation and personalized professional learning. He was the recipient of the Blended Schools Network Leadership Award, named one of the top 16 “forward thinking EdTech leaders in the country,” named one of the “top 100 influential voices in education,” has been featured in Tech & Learning magazine’s Leadership Profile, and has appeared on various television shows. Murray’s cyber- and blended-learning programs have been highlighted by Forbes.com, T.H.E. Journal, District Administration magazine, Project Red, Tech & Learning magazine, the Innosight Institute, and iNACOL, among oth­ers, and on Digital Learning Day in both 2013 and 2014. He also serves on the advisory board for T.H.E. Journal and Remind. Murray is the cofounder of #edtechchat, a weekly educational technology Twitter forum, where hundreds of educators from around the world discuss digital learning. As a follow up, his weekly show, #edtechchat radio on the BAM Radio Network, regularly falls as one of the top downloaded education podcasts. Connect with him on Twitter @thomascmurray or at www.thomascmurray.com.

 

Speaking Engagements and Other Credentials:
http://www.thomascmurray.com/#!2014-engagements/c1d9n

Dr. Jeffrey Zoul is a lifelong teacher, learner, and leader, currently serving as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with Deerfield Public Schools District 109 in Deerfield, Illinois. Prior to working in this capacity, Jeff served as a district administrator in Rock Island, Illinois, and a school improvement specialist with Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), the nation’s largest and oldest non-profit school improvement network. Jeff also served as a principal with Forsyth County Schools in Cumming, Georgia, and with North Shore School District 112 in Highland Park, Illinois.

Before serving as an administrator, Dr. Zoul was a classroom teacher for 18 years in the State of Georgia, teaching elementary school, middle school, and high school English.

Dr. Zoul is also the author of several books, including Improving Your School One Week at a Time: Building the Foundation for Professional Teaching and Learning and The 4 CORE Factors for School Success, co-authored with Dr. Todd Whitaker. Jeff has also served as an adjunct professor at North Georgia College and State University, teaching graduate level courses in research and assessment.

Dr. Zoul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master of Science degree in education from Troy University. In addition, Zoul earned an Education Specialist’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi and a doctoral degree from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Please follow and contact Jeff via Twitter: @Jeff_Zoul

Reviews

"Murray and Zoul outline what it takes to be a Future Ready School District as it relates to professional learning. It is imperative that school districts move from the one-size-fits-all, sit and get model of professional learning to a system where teachers are empowered, human capacity is built, staff take ownership of their own learning, and leaders serve as a models in their own learning. This book offers practical advice that can be implemented by any educator and is a needed tool for their tool chest!"  
*Governor Bob Wise, President*

"Leading Professional Learning: Tools to Connect and Empower Teachers masterfully connects how and why professional learning for teachers can be transformed. It′s an accessible, practical resource that every educator should have in their toolkit."
*Cindy Johanson, Executive Director*

"This is a brief, but powerful, book about making professional learning for teachers more meaningful and personal. Murray and Zoul have identified several important ways to improve how we support our teachers′ learning so that they are better equipped to support their students. The book offers practical tips that schools and districts can take and use immediately."
*Todd Whitaker, Professor of Department of Educational Leadership*

" There is nothing more important than the professional learning of teachers. Murray and Zoul outline easy to implement strategies while providing an array of tools to assist any educator, regardless of experience, take control of his or her learning."
*Eric Sheninger, Author of Digital Leadership*

"Too many school leaders dread staff meetings and professional development days because they aren′t prepared to make these events meaningful learning opportunities for their staff members. This book will help school leaders feel excited about the next staff learning event by giving them the knowledge and tools to make a positive impact on those they lead."
*Curt Rees, Principal*

"Murray and Zoul present a refreshingly practical guide for bringing professional learning into the 21st century. In addition to sharing a compelling vision for how technology can supercharge collaboration among educators, they also provide specific approaches and tools so anyone can make the transformation in their own school."
*Richard Culatta, Education Innovator*

" In this book we learn it is not only possible, but essential for educators to ′own their own learning′ when we talk about professional development/growth. Excited to hear concepts proven to work with our students being used with our educators. Great stuff from two awesome educators!"
*Daisy Dyer Duerr, Principal*

"As a teacher, it′s refreshing to read a book that describes how districts can transform old-fashioned, one-size-fits-all professional development into differentiated, professional learning experiences that are beneficial for all involved! I sincerely hope that some day soon, all educators are afforded the opportunity to move from ′renting′ to ′owning′ their professional learning. Empower us to make the right decisions with regard to our professional growth and we will be more invested in learning, taking risks, and expecting the same from our students!"
*Paul A. Solarz, 5th Grade Teacher*

"In this book, Murray & Zoul have crafted a must-have educator guide supporting movement away from conventional one-size professional development and toward 21st Century lifelong personalized learning. Along the reading route, authors point out meaningful professional resources, share compelling anecdotes, and introduce easily accessed and collaborative technologies. Concise, practical, and current! Even a well-connected educator might learn a thing a two!"
*Dr. Dea Conrad-Curry, Ed.D.*

"This book serves as a treasure trove of ideas and resources that can be used at any school. Murray and Zoul focus on empowering teachers with a spotlight on teacher led and designed professional learning opportunities. Any school or district leader that uses these ideas to build their professional learning opportunities will see an enthusiastic and fruitful response from their teachers."
*Jason Markey, High School Principal*

"In this digital age, teachers and education leadership need to learn the most meaningful ways to help students learn with digital tools. Murray and Zoul have created the book to help educators develop professionally with technology so that they truly understand how to help their learners. Every school should get this book in the hands of their teachers."  
*Shelly Sanchez Terrell, Education Consultant*

"Murray and Zoul remind us that all educators are, at their core, still learners. Leading Professional Learning is a call for all teachers and administrators to be models for their students: curious about new ideas, and armed with the skills to discover answers. This book prepares them well for all of this."
*Angela Maiers, Education Consultant*

As teachers, we are always modeling being a life-long learner for our students. We push ourselves to take risks and learn new strategies so that we can better serve the students we care for each day. However, sometimes it′s not always feasible to take time off for a workshop or connect in person. That is why I appreciate books like this so much. Murray and Zoul have collected a variety of practical resources each teacher can adopt to expand his or her professional practice.
*Erin Klein, Teacher and Blogger*

"As of now there are about 20 books in the Corwin Connected Educator Series, a seemingly ever-growing set of titles masterminded by Peter DeWitt and Corwin Press. Each book is short enough to be read in one sitting, which makes the collection ideal for book studies and professional development, both during the summer and throughout the school year. Also, each paperback is authored by one or two educators who speak (and blog, tweet, etc.) with a credible voice in the world of connected education. Some of the topics include:
Flipped leadership
Tools for connecting educators, parents, and communities
Blogging for educators
Best practices for establishing a makerspace
Tools to connect and empower teachers Finally, all of the authors are active on social media, and they regularly present at local conferences, which helps in bringing to life the contents of these books."
*Ross Cooper, Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12*