Why PD Must Start With Student Outcomes in Mind ft. Thomas Guskey | Lessons Learned | Ep 18
How do we move beyond Participants’ Reactions when we evaluate PD?
“ It's not that teachers are afraid of change or reluctant to change. It is just they're so committed to learning in their kids that they're not going to sacrifice their wellbeing and their learning for the sake of something new. And so you must build into any innovation, some strategy whereby teachers can gain feedback to see if it's working.” -Thomas Guskey
In this episode of Lessons Learned, host Matt sits down with Dr. Thomas Guskey, one of the nation’s leading education researchers and the author of the Guskey Framework. Together, they unpack the connection between teacher growth, system support, and student achievement.
Dr. Guskey shares his unplanned journey into education—from middle school teacher to mentee of Dr. Benjamin Bloom—and how those experiences shaped his life’s work. He explains why professional development should start with student outcomes and why he believes principals are the most critical dimension of driving systemic, lasting change.
The conversation also explores how technology and AI are reshaping instructional practice, the growing need to demonstrate ROI from federal funding, and the importance of long-term, evidence-based planning for sustainable reforms.
Together, they explore key topics such as:
- Why professional learning must be designed with student outcomes at the center
- How Level 3: Organizational Support & Change (the often forgotten level) is critical to understanding if systems are enabling teacher success
- The evolving role of technology and AI in professional development and assessment
- Why clear, quick moments of success are critical for lasting school improvement
Connect with our guest:
- Thomas Guskey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-guskey-9b458813/
- Thomas R. Guskey & Associates website: https://tguskey.com/
- Explore Thomas Guskey’s books: https://tguskey.com/toms-books/
Ways to tune in:
