Academy for EDvancement

Professional learning to develop the genius in every student.

We center student success

TAF’s Academy for EDvancement is a professional learning program aimed at creating a public education system that develops the genius in every student and gives them the tools to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, ideators, and leaders.

A classroom that centers students is a dynamic space. By removing the barriers and teaching approaches that marginalize students of color, we can create learning spaces guided by teachers with the knowledge, tools, and support to empower their classrooms.

Racial Equity

Multi-year professional learning series examining forms of racism and racial identity as educators

Summer Institute

Annual conference on instructional planning and the STEMbyTAF Model

CDI Support

Curriculum development training series and coaching

Leadership Track

Support with leading in a STEMbyTAF school and collaborative networking with teachers across districts and states

STEMbyTAF Consulting

Year-long professional learning and consulting program for school transformation

Vertical Course Catalog

Content-specific training for individual teachers and teams; micro-credentials available

Instructional Coach Training

Training in the STEMbyTAF Model for school-based instructional coaches

A 360° approach to professional development

We provide professional development for educators that is focused on equity, student voice and choice, and authentic assessments.

Racial equity, community, and project-based learning are core to our professional development model. We offer a number of opportunities to build the skills necessary to create equitable learning environments for students across classrooms, schools, and districts.

Let us bring the elements of our proven model into your schools. From week-long workshops on implementing our project-based learning model in classrooms to curriculum development training, coaching, and longer-term partnerships centered on racial equity, find the best approach to fit your school’s needs.

Vertical course programs

Want to enhance your classroom instruction and learn new skills and practices? We offer a number of courses for individual teachers and teacher teams looking to gain actionable tools you can implement in your classrooms right away.

These courses are currently offered on an annual basis.

Family and Community Engagement

Go beyond newsletters and field trips and learn practical ways to deepen how you engage with your students’ communities. Alongside teachers from various schools and districts, you’ll learn new instructional strategies, tools, and frameworks you can immediately use in your classroom to connect student learning with real issues being faced beyond the school’s walls.

EdTech

Develop the skills needed to integrate educational technology into your everyday teaching practice. From exploring project management tools to new ways of assessing student progress, this course will help teachers enhance their instructional practice and create equitable learning experiences for their students.

Introduction to Project Based Learning*

Learn how Project-Based Learning (PBL) can serve as a vehicle for equity in your classroom. Over the course of four sessions, work with your teacher team to understand the core components of PBL and create your very own, ready-to-implement interdisciplinary project.

*This course is only available currently for teacher teams of at least three.

Meet the team

Denise McLean

Director, Professional Learning

Andy Lang

Program Manager, Professional Learning

Are you ready to bring equity to your school classrooms?

Sign-up below to be notified about registration opportunities for upcoming professional learning sessions.

What our educators are saying

"I used to think that PBL was something that was completed alongside what students are doing in the classroom, and now I know that the content students are learning is within the PBL model."

"We deserve a textured education that engages all of who we are and respects the need for social change."

"I am empowered to teach my students to be agents of change, and help them understand that they can be who they are in their classroom, families, and communities. This is such a powerful way to be equitable and to do the work towards disrupting institutional racism. "

"One thing I will take back to my classroom is implementing more opportunities for students to engage in meaningful self assessment."

"Student voice and choice is an extremely important part of the PBL process."

"The examples of PBL in the classroom seen in the sessions and shared by colleagues made this feel not only doable but I am excited to do it."

"This was one of the most useful trainings that I have been to in YEARS!"

"[E]veryone will benefit from this training! [H]ow we communicate with families truly matters and we need to make sure we are respectful, and diminish any power roles we have."