School middle leaders (MLs) play a pivotal role in improving student outcomes through leading teaching and learning. However, MLs face considerable challenges in driving school improvement, including comparatively few opportunities for targeted professional development (PD). In this paper, we explore the impact of a pedagogy-focused, collaborative…

In this article, the authors discuss two ways of improving the rigour and integrity of mathematics in STEM programs drawing on examples from their research. The authors examine how mathematics can be made a stronger part of a STEM unit using examples from two pairs of teachers engaged in a STEM teacher professional development program, conducted…

Academic advisors need training and development in three critical components for effective practice: conceptual (students and institutional context), informational (laws, policies, procedures) and relational (interpersonal skills). Yet, the relational component is often neglected. Limited research explores the relational component and its presence…

Successful teacher professional development (TPD) programs involve teachers in learning activities which are similar to the ones teachers will use with their students. If professional development is considered a learning process that teachers have to carry out, then their attempts to fulfill their professional needs through improving their…

This chapter describes a successful approach for the preparation of future faculty to implement and advance effective teaching practices for diverse learners, currently implemented at nearly 40 graduate universities in the United States and Canada.

Whether in business or education, leadership should always take steps to prepare employees for increasing responsibilities and future leadership roles. Continuous leadership training helps ensure employees are prepared to lead their classrooms as well as step into future leadership roles with confidence. Cultivating faculty leadership has numerous…

This paper reviews the key conceptual models used in research on teacher development, in particular examining the strengths and limitations of expertise and career development models. The expertise development of a teacher is generally classified into several stages; novice, beginner, competent, skilled, and expert, while teacher career…

The present study demonstrated the importance and procedures of learners and learning context analysis to design a context-driven professional development program to effectively use of technology in mathematics classrooms. The study was conducted at departments of mathematics in two Colleges of Teacher Education using a combination of qualitative…

This chapter presents reflections on nearly two decades of membership in the Faculty Academy. The group created a safe space for professional growth and change. My story of Faculty Academy activity draws on Dewey's notion of the "doing" and "undergoing" (Dewey in "Art as experience." Perigee Books, New York, p. 47,…

Research on teacher education and classroom teaching has evolved significantly in recent decades, with more research taking an international or intersectional lens. The International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching (ISATT) has moved with the field, beginning as a predominantly white European and North American organization in 1983, it…

We explore how relational trust was evidenced within the leadership activity of one mathematics leader using cultural-historical activity theory as a theoretical perspective. We use data from interview and observation sources to suggest that relational trust was a motive object of that mathematics leader's activity. Findings contribute knowledge…

EL Education, originally called Expeditionary Learning, supports a network of 150 pre-K-12 public schools in 30 states and has launched an open source K-8 English language arts curriculum that has been downloaded more than 10 million times across 45 states. EL Education advocates a three-dimensional view of student achievement that puts character…

As part of its project on instructional leaders at the middle tier, International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and Education Development Trust (EDT) conducted case studies in five jurisdictions, exploring the professional practices and perceived impacts of instructional leaders and the enabling factors present in the systems in which…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold. First, this study reflects on the development of professional capital through understanding collective cultural factors, namely, academic optimism and shared vision. Second, it aims at exploring teacher learning. Teacher learning resulting in changes to teacher knowledge, attitudes and practices is…

Practitioner Inquiry (PI) is the systematic, intentional study of one's professional practice. It makes reflective teaching visible and actionable. In this article, we reflect on our experiences as practitioner researchers across elementary, secondary, and teacher education and engage in critical conversations with one another to present a common…