Let’s be real—professional development (PD) for teachers often feels like something we just have to “get through.” You know the drill: gather in the auditorium, sit through a long presentation, check your email when no one’s looking, and leave wondering how any of it will actually help in the classroom.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, that PD should be exciting, helpful, and something teachers look forward to. But right now, it’s often just one more thing on an already overwhelming to-do list.
So why isn’t professional development working? More importantly, how can we shake things up and make it engaging, meaningful, and actually useful?
Why Professional Development Misses the Mark
Let’s start by looking at why most PD feels like a drag. There are a few big reasons why it’s falling flat in today’s schools:
One-Size-Fits-None: PD is often designed with the idea that every teacher has the same needs. When PD is too broad or generic, it just doesn’t resonate. If there the information being offered is nothing new or innovative, what’s the point?
Teachers Are Already Swamped: Between planning lessons, grading, attending meetings, and (oh yeah) actually teaching, teachers are busy! Throwing in an extra PD session that doesn’t feel directly helpful can make it feel like just another task on an already overloaded plate.
No Follow-Up: Let’s say you go to a great PD session, learn a new strategy, and leave feeling inspired. But then, once you try it in your classroom, things get tricky. Without ongoing support, it’s easy to give up when things don’t go as planned—and let’s be honest, that happens a lot.
Disconnected from Reality: Sometimes PD is created by people who haven’t set foot in a classroom in years. That can lead to sessions that feel out of touch with the daily realities teachers face, like managing behavior or differentiating for 30 students in a single class.
Too Much Sitting and Listening: We all know students don’t learn well by sitting through hours of lectures, so why do we expect teachers to? PD that’s just talking heads and slideshows doesn’t work. We need hands-on, interactive experiences that engage us.
How We Can Make PD Better (and Maybe Even Fun)
Here’s the good news: PD doesn’t have to be something teachers dread. With a few changes, it can become something that’s actually useful, inspiring, and—dare we say—enjoyable!
Here’s how we can get there:
1. Make PD Ongoing and Built Into the Day
Ever felt like you learned something great at a workshop, but by the time you got back to your classroom, you’d already forgotten half of it? That’s because one-off PD sessions don’t cut it.
Instead, PD should be continuous and woven into the school day, so teachers have time to practice, reflect, and refine their new skills.
One way to do this is through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) or coaching. Imagine meeting regularly with a small group of colleagues to share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and work through real classroom scenarios.
Sounds more helpful than a one-time workshop, right?
Pro Tip: Carve out dedicated time during the school week for teachers to meet, reflect, and collaborate. PD doesn’t have to be extra—it can be part of the flow of the school day! Many schools are already incorporating PLC time, but it often becomes another time to do paperwork instead of creating and learning together. Make sure PLC is treasured and protected.
2. Get Teachers Actively Involved
PD shouldn’t be like sitting through a long lecture. Just like our students, teachers learn best when they’re actively involved. Instead of passive presentations, PD sessions should be hands-on, engaging, and interactive.
Think simulations, role-playing, and group activities where teachers can try out new strategies in real-time.
For example, if the goal is to boost collaboration in the classroom, let teachers work together in small groups to solve a challenge then reflect on how they can use similar techniques with their students.
The more engaging the PD, the more likely teachers will walk away with something they’ll actually use.
Pro Tip: Make sure PD includes plenty of active participation. This can be as simple as group discussions, peer teaching, or even hands-on experiments that mirror the classroom experience. Allow time during the PD session for teachers to work on the work. Let them incorporate the strategy they just learned into a lesson.
3. Tailor PD to Teacher Needs
Not every teacher needs the same thing from PD. An elementary teacher is going to have different challenges than a high school history teacher.
The key is to offer PD relevant to what each teacher teaches and what their students need.
One way to do this is by giving teachers a choice. Offer a range of PD sessions that address different subjects and experience levels and let teachers pick what’s most relevant to them.
This way, they’re not wasting time on PD that doesn’t fit their needs—and they’re more likely to stay engaged.
Pro Tip: Survey teachers before PD days to discover what they need and want. Let them choose sessions that align with their goals and classroom realities. Just like we want to invest in our students' curiosity, we also want to engage in what our teachers are curious about.
4. Provide Real Support (Not Just a One-and-Done)
Learning a new strategy is one thing—applying it in the classroom is a different ballgame. Without ongoing support, teachers can quickly feel overwhelmed or frustrated when things don’t go perfectly the first time (spoiler alert: they won’t).
That’s why it’s so important to offer coaching or mentorship that extends beyond a single PD session.
A coaching model can be a game-changer. Imagine having someone observe your classroom, offer feedback, and help you fine-tune your approach. It’s like having a teaching buddy who’s there to guide you through the bumps and keep you on track.
Pro Tip: Set up a system where teachers are paired with coaches or mentors who can offer ongoing support, give feedback, and troubleshoot challenges over time. If the budget doesn’t allow for instructional coaches, there are online communities teachers can join such as Curiosity 2 Connect. Having a support system is essential for mental health and long term teacher retention.
5. Make It All About the Students
At the end of the day, PD isn’t just about making teachers better—it’s about making a difference for students. The best PD is directly linked to improving student outcomes.
Whether it’s helping kids develop critical thinking skills, fostering creativity, or boosting engagement, PD should always be connected to how it will impact student learning.
For example, if the school’s goal is to increase student engagement, PD sessions might focus on inquiry-based learning, where students are encouraged to ask questions and explore ideas on their own.
Teachers can work together to create lesson plans that put students in the driver’s seat and then come back to reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
Pro Tip: Always connect PD to actual student outcomes. Show teachers how new strategies can help their students succeed, and use student data to track progress and adjust as needed. Data is becoming a four-letter word - by showing teachers how data collection can be meaningful and relevant- data can become a partner in learning - not a restriction.
Wrapping It Up
Professional development doesn’t have to be something teachers dread. By making it ongoing, relevant, and engaging, schools can create PD experiences that inspire teachers, improve practice, and ultimately benefit students.
Let’s ditch the boring workshops and create PD that feels like a real opportunity for growth—because when teachers are excited about learning, that excitement spreads to their students. And isn’t that what education is all about?
So let’s get creative, make PD meaningful, and support our teachers every step of the way. After all, they deserve it!
That’s why Curiosity 2 Create is dedicated to providing ongoing cutting-edge professional development specifically tailored for teachers by teachers. Learn more at www.curiosity2create.org
I'm Katie Trowbridge, and I am the author of this post. I am also the president and CEO of Curiosity 2 Create, a nonprofit organization offering professional development and coaching for educators and administrators.
We use the CREATE Method, an ESSA Level 4 backed method that reduces chronic absenteeism, improves student engagement, and increases student academic performance using our CREATE Method model. Schedule a call here to learn more about how Curioisty 2 Create and the CREATE Method can help you and your school today.