I’m a podcast person. For years, my work included longer commutes, and I spent much of that time listening. It was easy to find episodes connected to my work, and I’ve started many conversations with, “I was listening to a podcast and heard…” My colleagues and I even created our own podcast, Digital Learning Radio (still available), and many of my professional learning sessions include references and resources I first encountered through podcast listening. There are podcasts

We often attend conferences and other professional learning looking for ideas. But what if we also studied how the experience is designed? This reflection offers a simple lens to help you notice, reflect, and apply what you learn in new ways.

The best professional learning lives beyond "seat time." Explore four practical AI experiments that any PD designer or facilitator can adapt to extend learning before and after a session.

Learning Forward Texas (LFTX), a leading nonprofit association dedicated to enhancing educator effectiveness through professional learning, is proud to announce the selection of its new board members for 2025.

What if you started designing your next event by naming what participants will do? This short read explores how a simple shift toward purpose and action shapes a conference experience.

Accessibility does not have to feel overwhelming. With new ADA updates on the horizon, this post shares three manageable design moves you can implement right away. Start small and design digital learning experiences that truly welcome everyone.

In anticipation of our summer Learning Forward Texas conference , we’re excited to continue highlighting the leaders who will help shape this year’s learning experience. Our Day 1 keynote speaker, Dr. Jill M. Siler , brings a deep commitment to thoughtful design, courageous leadership, and professional learning that truly moves people. As Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and a former superintendent for nearly a decade, Jill h

A frequent topic of conversation in my work with educators is how to help learning stick. Whether we’re talking about classroom instruction or ideas introduced during a professional learning session, the hope is the same: that learning transfers into practice. My interest in the learning sciences began in 2015 with a Twitter book study of Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning . What began as professional curiosity soon influenced how I approached the design of pro

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2026 Fort Worth, TX – Learning Forward Texas is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Professional Learning Awards , honoring districts that exemplify excellence in professional learning and educator development. This year’s honorees— Irving ISD’s Professional Learning Team and the Mesquite ISD Professional Learning Department —demonstrate an unwavering commitment to continuous educator growth and improved student outcomes. To celebr

How we begin matters more than we think. This post explores three intentional design moves that shape the start of learning experiences, from first discovery to the opening moments together.

Pre-emails are one of the simplest ways to strengthen a learning experience, especially when time is tight. This post offers a three-part framework for designing pre-emails that support comfort, content, and connections while staying concise and respectful of educators’ time. Try one small idea in your next session and see how it transforms the beginning.

In the final post of this three-part series on personalized professional learning and growth, explore how we define career success and why traditional paths like promotions and titles don’t work for everyone. Learn how the multidimensional career framework can help individuals name their growth priorities and help leaders retain and support passionate educators.

The second post in a three-part series on personalizing professional learning. After exploring your learning preferences in Part 1, this post invites you to take the next step: intentionally designing your own learning journey. Discover how self-directed learning and curation can transform not only your growth, but also how you support others.

Discover how understanding your learning preferences helps you take ownership of your growth, save time, and design better experiences for others.

The first five minutes of a professional learning session can shape everything that follows. In this post, explore delivery strategies from The Choreography of Presenting by Kendall Zoller, including synchronicity and purposeful openings that build connection and trust. Whether you’re leading learning next week or next month, these small moves can make a big difference.

Review the top five most-read posts from this past year.

Open Enrollment is a learning session your district hosts with a twist! These sessions are also open to participants from other...

Learning Forward Texas is excited to welcome new board members, who begin their three-year terms at the Annual Conference in Hurst. New board officers will begin their one-year term in July.

Get ready for #LFTX25 by embracing the ABCs of Conference Engagement: Amplify, Build, and Connect. This year’s Learning Forward Texas Summer Conference encourages attendees to intentionally share insights, turn ideas into action, and spark meaningful connections—whether through thoughtful conversations, a playful new Bingo Board, or purposeful planning tools.