Professional Learning Team Meets Major Milestone and Looks Ahead

As the 24/25 school year comes to a close, the West40 Professional Learning Team is reflecting with deep gratitude and pride on the meaningful work we've been part of, both within our districts and across our team.

For the first time in our history, the PL Team has established relationships with 100% of the districts in our region, a milestone that reflects our shared commitment to connection, consistency, and showing up with purpose. Whether through formal service agreements or early-stage conversations, we’ve prioritized being present and responsive in every corner of our region, and continued to build systems of support that empower schools, educators, and students.

From coaching school leaders to embedding systems for multilingual learners, co-designing professional learning around the Danielson Framework, and tracking two decades of student data to surface long-term achievement patterns, our work has been rooted in deep collaboration and responsiveness.

We helped launch a new network for school nurses and supported the growth of adult practices that center on student success. Many of us found joy in the small, personal wins: a quiet moment during end-of-year, Field Day, a powerful quote from a principal about reflective coaching, or a breakthrough PLC conversation that revealed new potential in literacy practices.

As one school leader shared during an end-of-year reflection, “Everyone could benefit from having a West40 coach. This kind of feedback reminds us why we show up the way we do, with consistency, humility, and a deep belief in the power of partnership."

We also learned and led together, facilitating Administrator Academies, presenting at state and national conferences, and building new partnerships that stretch our thinking and expand our reach. Every project, whether internal or district-facing, was a step toward our shared vision: one where professional learning is intentional, inclusive, and impactful.

Looking ahead, we’re energized by what’s to come. We’re excited to deepen our co-teaching work, expand paraprofessional development, increase support for early childhood programs, and continue supporting districts through mentoring and induction, training and support around Danielson 2022 Framework for Teaching and intentional leadership coaching and continuous improvement systems. With several new offerings on the horizon, including 13 new Administrator Academies providing tools to bring greater coherence to professional learning; we are stepping into the 25/26 school year with clarity and purpose.

We’re also proud to expand our EmpowerED initiative, offering free professional learning during shared institute days. This is an open invitation to districts looking to bring meaningful, high-quality PD to their educators at no cost. Learn more and explore how to get involved here: https://sites.google.com/west40.org/walkingfurtherwithyou/home

We’re proud of what we’ve built, but even more excited about what we’re still building --- together.

— The West40 Professional Learning Team