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Stephanie Hirsh

As executive director of Learning Forward, Stephanie Hirsh works on a variety of projects, including overall operation of Learning Forward, our strategic plan, policy development work, state education agency relations, grant/fund development, and partnerships. Past columns in JSD and Results address the effective implementation of our standards.

This page offers links to many of Hirsh's articles. Use the links below to jump to different sections on this page. Note: Some of Learning Forward's articles are available to members only; login is required. Nonmembers may purchase individual JSD articles or newsletter issues.

• Webinars and TV/radio appearances
• Speeches
• Articles from JSD
• Articles from the Learning System
• Articles from Learning Principal
• Articles from Results
• Books

Webinars and TV/radio appearances

• Professional learning with Learning Forward, Education Talk Radio, April 9, 2012.
• Professional development and teacher evaluation in improving teacher effectiveness, Center for American Progress, Nov. 29, 2011.
• Learning Forward: Update on professional learning, Education Talk Radio, Nov. 10, 2011.
• Standards for Professional Learning with Stephanie Hirsh, Education Talk Radio, Aug. 3, 2011.
• Engineering solutions to the national literacy crisis, Alliance for Excellent Education, May 26, 2011.
• Professional development update: A conversation with Learning Forward's Stephanie Hirsh, Education Talk Radio, May 10, 2011.
• Parent-Teacher Corner, Lifetime's The Balancing Act, Dec. 7, 2010.
• The Innovators, Sky Radio, May/June 2010.

Speeches

• An Introduction to Professional Learning in the Learning Profession, Panel presentation for American Youth Policy Forum, June 26, 2009.
  
• Using Policy to Advance Effective Professional Development, Panel presentation for American Youth Policy Forum, June 26, 2009.
  
• Creating Effective Teacher Professional Development in Tough Economic Times, Webinar created for Education Week presentation, March 26, 2009.
  

Articles from JSD

• From the director: Encourage teachers to step up to leadership roles, JSD, June 2011.
• From the director: A learning school on every corner is the best pathway to student success, JSD, April 2011.
• From the director: Turning to partners doesn't have to create a feeding frenzy, JSD, February 2011.

• The power of one, revisited: Inspiring examples remind us we can all find ways to make a difference, JSD, December 2010.
• From the director: Learning Forward's 'big bet' on policy reaps big wins in practice, JSD, December 2010.
• From the director: Mastering new standards will require teams to dig into deep content learning, JSD, October 2010.
• From the director: Social justice in schools requires difficult conversations and clear vision, JSD, August 2010.
• Building hope, giving affirmation: Learning communities that address social justice issues bring equity to the classroom, JSD, August 2010, written with Shirley M. Hord.
• From the director: The new central office plays a key role in ensuring effective professional learning, JSD, June 2010.
• From the director: We need every school system to establish its vision for the principal as instructional leader, JSD, April 2010.
• From the director: No excuses! Technology offers more options to expand access and innovation, JSD, February 2010.

• Results: Sharpen your message with a laser talk, JSD, December 2009.
• A new definition, JSD, Fall 2009.
• Results: Develop a protocol to make the most out of school visits, JSD, Fall 2009.
• Results: Rich learning opportunities exist in a tough economy, JSD, Summer 2009.
• Results: Believe in the capacity of people to invent their own solutions, JSD, Spring 2009.
• Results: Before deciding what to do, determine what is necessary, JSD, Winter 2009.

• Results: Let stakeholders know what you intend to accomplish, JSD, Fall 2008.
• Stronger and better: Diversity enhances an organization, JSD, Winter 2008, written with Joellen Killion.

• NSDC's standards: Consider these critical questions to strengthen your school improvement plan, JSD, Fall 2006.
• NSDC's standards: NSDC standards provide a richer definition of professional development than does NCLB, JSD, Summer 2006.
• NSDC's standards: Assessment inventory measures professional development quality, JSD, Spring 2006.
• NSDC's standards: IC maps help educators find their way in implementing standards, JSD, Winter 2006.

• NSDC's Standards: Chance meeting starts a new phase in staff development standards, JSD, Fall 2005.
• Putting comprehensive staff development on target, JSD, Winter 2004.
• Dollars and sense, JSD, Summer 2003.
• We're growing and changing, JSD, Summer 2001.
• Power of 1: Individual political action can energize adult learning, JSD, Summer 2000.
• Standards guide staff development, JSD, Spring 1999.
• Staff developers as planning facilitators, JSD, Spring 1993.

Articles from the Learning System

• Teacher evaluation: An opportunity to leverage learning at all levels, The Learning System, Fall 2010.

• What works around the world: Landmark study examines professional learning abroad to pinpoint effective strategies for U.S. schools, The Learning System, February 2009.
  

Articles from the Learning Principal

• Landmark study examines U.S. professional learning: Findings point the way to improving student achievement, The Learning Principal, February 2009.

Articles from Results

• Provide the best quality for all, Results, May 2004.
• Time to evaluate adult learning and student achievement, Results, April 2004.
• Standards need 'critical friends', Results, March 2004.
• Sights and sounds of implementing standards, Results, February 2004.
• A new way to examine yourself, Results, December 2003/January 2004.
• What's next after adopting the standards?, Results, November 2003.
• Calling all parents to support NSDC standards, Results, October 2003.
• School board adoption of standards is a first step, Results, September 2003.

• Quality teaching in federal spotlight, Results, May 2003.
• Develop teachers' skills as communicators, Results, April 2003.
• Resolving conflicts key to collaboration, Results, March 2003.
• Make clear your theory of change, Results, February 2003.
• Data tell a school's full story, Results, December 2002.
• Plan thoughtfully for team time, Results, November 2002.
• Together, you can do more, Results, October 2002.
• Make your own professional reading a priority this year, Results, September 2002.

• Make equity a priority, Results, May 2002.
• Research comes before decisions, Results, April 2002.
• Spend existing resources wisely, Results, March 2002.
• Leadership begins with thoughtful consideration, Results, February 2002.
• Heed knowledge about human learning and change, Results, December 2001.
• Educators plus families improve student learning, Results, November 2001.
• Needs are based on student goals, Results, October 2001.
• Collaboration benefits standards as well as staff learning, Results, September 2001.

• Tips for using the standards in schools, Results, May 1998.
• Not all content is created equal, Results, March 1998.
• Alternative strategies respects learners' differences, Results, December 1997.
• Creating a seamless connection, Results, November 1997.
• Three critical I's for school improvement, Results, March 1998.
• Investing the time to learn, Results, October 1997.
• On-going learning key part of school improvement, Results, September 1997.

Articles from Tools for Schools

• Powerful conversations, Tools for Schools, December 2003/January 2004.

Books

• The Learning Educator: A New Era for Professional Learning
  By Stephanie Hirsh and Joellen Killion
  Learning Forward Executive Director Stephanie Hirsh and Deputy Executive Director Joellen Killion outline eight principles to guide professional learning during the next era. If professional development decision makers adopt these principles, the authors believe they will contribute to ensuring that professional learning will improve leading, teaching, and learning. This book helps readers understand what qualifies as effective professional learning, enables them to believe that this kind of professional learning is possible to achieve, and provides a blueprint that enables thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners to join together in this crucial work.
  NSDC, 2007
  
  
• Moving NSDC's Staff Development Standards into Practice: Innovation Configurations; Volume II
  By Shirley Hord, Stephanie Hirsh, & Patricia Roy
  The second volume of Moving NSDC's Staff Development Standards into Practice: Innovation Configurations builds on the work that began with the first volume published in 2003. An Innovation Configuration map is a device that identifies and describes the major components of a new practice such as the standards and details how it would look in practice. Chapters in Volume II are presented on CD-ROMs. The chapters contain information for particular contexts and professional roles. The five chapters are: the director of staff development, the external assistance provider, the institution of higher education, the professional association, and the state education agency.
  NSDC & SEDL, 2005
  
  
• Transforming Schools Through Powerful Planning
  By Kay Psencik and Stephanie Hirsh
  School planning is a powerful process for focusing the dreams and aspirations, the creative talents, and energies of individuals on a common sense of mission that is essential for transforming schools. Psencik and Hirsh offer 20 carefully crafted sessions that will guide participants in establishing a common vision and implementing research-based strategies. The entire process is aligned with NSDC's Standards for Staff Development.
  NSDC, 2004
  
  
• Moving NSDC's Staff Development Standards into Practice: Innovation Configurations; Volume I
  Project Directors: Patricia Roy and Shirley Hord
  Project Leader: Stephanie Hirsh
  NSDC's groundbreaking work in developing standards for staff development has now been joined by an equally important book that spells out exactly how those standards would look if they were being implemented by school districts. An Innovation Configuration map is a device that identifies and describes the major components of a new practice - in this case, the standards - and details how it would be used in practice. The IC maps create a mental image of what each of the 12 NSDC Standards for Staff Development look like in practice when implemented by members of five different role groups - teachers, principals, superintendents, central office, and school boards. The IC maps differentiate what each role group does relative to the standards so that a rich picture of practice emerges for a school district.
  NSDC & SEDL, 2003