Future of Learning team shifts from staff professional learning to student experiences

The Avon Grove School District’s Future of Learning action team on Jan. 14 reported results from its work on professional learning and laid out plans to shift the team’s focus toward student experiences in the next comprehensive‑plan cycle.

Dr. Koch, who led the update on the Future of Learning team, said the current team concentrated on changing professional development from single‑event trainings to multi‑touch learning series that include asynchronous work, mid‑year collaborative sessions and end‑of‑year reflections. “The real hallmark of Flex 1 was that we introduced a new learning series concept,” Dr. Koch said.

Why it matters: District leaders said deeper, recurring professional learning is intended to increase teacher autonomy, improve classroom practice and, ultimately, boost student outcomes. Staff also said they are piloting a more teacher‑directed “choose your own” model for the second flex window that asks educators to identify strengths, set student outcomes and plan a self‑guided path during the year.

Koch summarized recent activities: an October meeting that finalized plans for the first flex window (Flex 1), rollout of several year‑long learning series (including a Special Education series and sessions on generative AI), and think‑tank work facilitated by Julia Skolnick to design learning that sticks. He described the learning‑series structure as three touch points: initial asynchronous work, a mid‑year collaborative session to apply research‑based practices and identify student outcomes, and a final reflection session.

Koch said the Future of Learning team will hold a feedback session on Feb. 4 to review the professional learning portion of the draft comprehensive plan, and a final Think Tank meeting in March to formalize processes before the team refocuses on student experiences. “Our final meeting of this group for this year is really gonna be focused on formalizing, memorializing the processes that we've put in place,” he said.

Board members endorsed the changes and asked for evidence linking professional learning to student outcomes. Mike (board member) asked to see “concrete examples” of classroom changes and data showing effects on student outcomes; he suggested sharing teacher stories on AGTV or district communications. Dr. Koch and other staff said they have already used facilitator snippets in district communications and plan to present outcome data as the comprehensive plan work proceeds.

Staff also reported changes in the flex catalog: the district allowed non‑Act‑48 activities that focus on staff well‑being (yoga, stress management, jewelry making) to appear in Lehi 1 and will continue similar offerings in Lehi 2; Dr. Koch and other staff framed those as non‑credit options intended to support educator well‑being.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff said it will inform the next comprehensive plan update.

Ending: The Future of Learning team will hand off leadership to other administrators but will continue to support the Impact of Technology work and the district’s transition to student‑focused initiatives for the next plan cycle.