Teacher Professional Development Trends: What Educators Really Want

Hey, gang! I am bringing you the real talk on professional development. Let’s be honest: when educators hear “professional development,” it doesn’t always spark excitement. Instead, we brace ourselves for long hours, unengaging presentations, and content irrelevant to our daily needs. That mindset exists for a reason—the bar for professional development in K-12 education is set way too low. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Professional development can be valuable, inspiring, and practical experience.  

At its core, professional development should serve two purposes: inspiration and strategy. Educators want to walk away energized, but they also need actionable tools they can use in their classrooms the very next day. Too often, though, PD misses the mark, leaving teachers bored, frustrated, and disconnected. As a result, we need to rethink our professional development approach as educators and presenters.  

Start with Relevance  

First and foremost, professional development must feel relevant. Teachers don’t want to waste time on generic advice, irrelevant content, or outdated practices. They need content tailored to their specific challenges. It is not complicated! If your school struggles with classroom management or differentiated instruction, professional development should address those exact issues.  Relevance eliminates the feeling of, “Why am I sitting through this?” Instead, it creates engagement and purpose.  

Here’s how to make it relevant:  

1.  Ask Teachers What They Need – Create surveys or hold quick brainstorming sessions to learn what topics matter most to your staff.  
2.  Customize the Content – Avoid one-size-fits-all presentations. Tailor the material to fit the unique needs of your district, school, or grade level.  
3.  Connect It to Daily Practice—Connect every strategy to something teachers already do or struggle with in their classrooms. Teachers need to see how this will make their lives easier or their teaching more effective.  

Inspire Without Overloading  

Educators don’t just want strategies—they crave inspiration. Teaching is challenging, and it’s easy to lose sight of the passion that brought us to this profession in the first place. Effective PD should reignite that spark while balancing inspiration with actionable steps. When PD balances heart and head, teachers feel recharged and ready to tackle their goals.  

The sweet spot:  

1.  Mix Inspiration with Practicality – Share stories of success and growth in education, but always pair them with tools or strategies that help teachers replicate those outcomes.  
2.  Use Engaging Delivery – Boring presentations kill inspiration. Use humor, visuals, storytelling, and interaction to keep educators engaged.  
3.  Empower Teachers – Remind them why their work matters. Acknowledge their challenges and emphasize the positive impact they make every single day.  

Fix the Presentation Problem  

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: bad presentations. Educators roll their eyes when a PD session begins with a presenter reading from a text-heavy slide deck or rattling off their credentials for 20 minutes. These sessions suck the energy out of the room before they even get started.  

I use a simple tool to fix this: the T-chart method. Draw a T on a piece of paper. On one side, write everything you hate about professional development. On the other side, write everything you love about it! As a presenter, avoid everything on the “hate” side and lean into the “love” side.  As a presenter, your job is to engage, not overwhelm. Focus on creating a dynamic experience that teachers will actually enjoy and remember.  

Don’t do it!

- Skip the lengthy introductions about yourself.  

- Avoid overcrowded slides. 

- Use visuals and keep the text simple.  

- Incorporate hands-on activities and discussions rather than hours of lecture.

- Give breaks for processing!

Celebrate Growth and Progress  

Another key element educators want from PD is a focus on growth. Too often, professional development comes across as a critique of what teachers are doing wrong. Instead, it should celebrate what’s working and build on it.  When PD emphasizes growth, it motivates teachers to keep improving instead of feeling defeated.  

Shift the focus to growth:  

1.  Highlight Success Stories – Share examples of teachers or schools implementing strategies effectively. Use their stories to inspire others.  
2.  Set Realistic Goals – Encourage educators to focus on small, manageable improvements instead of drastic overhauls.  
3.  Recognize Effort – Celebrate the hard work teachers put into trying new strategies, even if the results aren’t perfect right away.  

Make It Interactive  

The most engaging professional development sessions are interactive. Teachers don’t want to sit passively for hours—they want to collaborate, share ideas, and practice new skills. Interactive PD respects teachers as professionals and keeps them engaged from start to finish. 

Make PD more interactive:  

1.  Facilitate Discussions – Allow teachers to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions. Peer-to-peer learning can be incredibly powerful.  
2.  Incorporate Hands-On Activities – Use role-playing, group work, or simulations to bring concepts to life.  
3.  Encourage Reflection – Give teachers time to consider how they will apply what they have learned to their classrooms.  
4.  Switch it up! QR codes, post-it notes, chart paper, dance breaks, and hands on experiences take PD to the next level!

So, what do educators really want from professional development? 

They want relevance, inspiration, practical strategies, dynamic presentations, and opportunities for growth and collaboration. They want to walk away from every session with tools they can use and a renewed sense of purpose.  

If you’re a school leader or presenter, it’s time to raise the bar. Stop delivering cookie-cutter content and start listening to what teachers actually need. And if you’re a teacher, advocate for professional development that fuels your growth and passion.  

When done right, professional development can energize, unite, and make us better educators. It doesn’t have to be something we dread. Let’s make it happen, gang. Stand tall, and let’s transform PD together!  

As a professional speaker, I travel all over the world speaking at schools and organizations.  Jet lag is a thing of the past for me thanks to FlyKitt. You have to check them out! Visit FlyKitt and use the coupon code STANDTALL for 10% off and tell them Stand Tall Steve sent you!

Why should you get involved with Within Our Ranks? Most importantly, Within Our Ranks creates a sense of community. You’ll connect with like-minded educators who understand your challenges and share your joys, forming relationships that will continue to support you long after the program ends. This is more than professional development; it’s a transformative experience that reminds you why you chose to teach and empowers you to keep making a difference. Take the leap—you deserve this.