Handbook of Professional Development in Education

“Have you set a goal to do some professional reading this summer? Before heading to your favorite chair, pick up the…Handbook of Professional Development in Education....This handbook offers a synthesis of current knowledge of effective practices in professional learning for teachers....The editors and most of the fifty contributing authors are researchers and faculty members of preservice higher education programs. Over the years, I have studied the work of several of the participating authors and admire their commitment to improving professional development through research, publications, and their outreach to educational leaders and practitioners....The scope of the handbook is comprehensive, and highly relevant topics receive in-depth treatment. It is well organized; each chapter begins with a list of key points and ends with questions for discussions....Characteristics of successful professional development are identified in the preface and elaborated upon throughout the handbook....Should prove to be a tremendous resource to state leaders who are wrestling with the complexities of many of the issues discussed in the handbook.”

—CCSSO State Consortium on Educator Effectiveness website


“Finally, an evidence-based source for PD is available! Martin and her colleagues have done a stellar job of presenting the best of scholarship in a usable reference. Anyone who does PD needs a copy of this handbook to study and use in design and implementation. This volume provides the foundation for ensuring that teachers have the support and knowledge to bring their students to world-class standards.”

—Elfrieda H. Hiebert, PhD, President and CEO, TextProject


“This rich volume takes theories of school-based teacher learning and demonstrates what they look like in action. At the heart of the Handbook is a focus on aligning PD to outcomes for students. Chapter authors are highly engaged scholars and leaders in the field whose voices ring with wisdom and experience. I especially appreciate the way the book moves from the big-picture 'whys' of PD to the fine-grained 'whats' and 'hows' of sustaining ongoing school improvement. The complexities of PD are explored, such as the tensions that may surface when policy decisions and evidence-based practices are at odds. Authors clearly articulate the challenges, successes, and next steps for moving the teaching profession forward. Educational leaders, instructional coaches, and teacher educators will profit from using this handbook, and it is an important resource for graduate courses.”

—Lori Helman, PhD, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Director, Minnesota Center for Reading Research, University of Minnesota


“A prodigious achievement. Professional development is a critical topic in the field of education improvement, and until now there has been no place that one could go to obtain a comprehensive, in-depth treatment. The Handbook fills this gap. With 25 key chapters and eight case studies, there is no other resource in the literature like it. This is a great accomplishment that will serve the field for the next decade.”

—Michael Fullan, PhD, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (Emeritus), University of Toronto, Canada