Education leaders are ditching traditional workshops for “job-embedded” professional development that prioritizes teacher collaboration and immediate classroom impact, according to two building leaders.

State Principals of the Year Tom Hakim of Indiana and Derek Cantrell of Virginia joined District Administration’s DA Changemakers podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of professional development. Citing national data, the conversation highlighted that nearly 70% of teachers prefer collaborative learning over standard coaching or one-off workshops.

Cantrell, principal of Alleghany High School, advocates for a shift from “compliance to classroom impact.” His school takes a “layered approach” to professional development, incorporating department-led book studies and “instructional rounds” where teachers observe peers to build a collective “toolbox” of strategies.