“Activate” Your Membership

by Cynthia Carver, Learning Forward Past-President

A couple of years ago, I was faced with a difficult decision. I was preparing for a job move and my eldest was heading off to college. The economy had soured and the future was uncertain. When my Learning Forward Michigan membership renewal arrived in the mail, I set it aside. Was it worth the investment to renew? Would it matter?

As you probably guessed, I did decide to renew my membership. More importantly, however, I made the commitment to get more involved (and invested) in the organization. Why? Because Learning Forward Michigan represents the commitments I hold most dearly as an educator.

Regardless of the educational issue or problem, I tend to see it through a learning lens. Do teachers understand the curriculum standards they are being asked to implement? Do they have the strategies for building safe learning communities in their classroom? Are teacher leaders equipped with the skills for working alongside their peers to plan and implement initiatives designed to improve students’ learning outcomes? Do school leaders have a vision for leading instructional change in their buildings?

When I was a first-year teacher, I remember engaging in a series of PD opportunities, including a peer coaching initiative, and thinking: I want to do that kind of work someday. I want to design and lead my peers in professional learning that has the power to both transform teacher practice and fuel student learning. That day is now here and Learning Forward is my go-to resource. But it is also something more than that. Through Learning Forward Michigan, I have found a statewide network of colleagues who share my professional commitments. Best of all, they have also become my dear friends!

Today, more than ever, our individual and collective voices are urgently needed. As the educational landscape transforms itself for a more accountable future, we must continually and boldly advocate for high quality, standards-informed professional learning. Please, join me in activating your membership!