Teachers are learners, too. All educators need opportunities to learn and grow, from early-career teachers who need mentorship to hone their craft and build confidence, to master teachers deepening their knowledge and experimenting with new techniques. Educators also grow professionally when they take on roles as mentors, coaches, or teacher leaders, or when they play an active part in continuous improvement and decision-making.

Educators need regular opportunities to share techniques and teaching methods that help them develop strong curricula. Through cooperative practice, educators develop a deep camaraderie based on the shared belief that teaching is a “public science” open to discussion and improvement.

When educators learn with and from each other, their learning strengthens the culture of the school and builds collective capacity. For a school undergoing an ambitious redesign, there’s no strategy more powerful than collaborative planning and shared professional learning. Teachers need opportunities to work together to build their own understanding of the school design and translate its elements into detailed plans for teaching and learning.