Tennessee Principal Professional Learning Series

The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee’s Center for Educational
Leadership are partnering to provide virtual professional learning opportunities to principals to support them in addressing the immediate challenges facing schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic during these tumultuous and uncertain times. These sessions will be completely free, optional, and eligible for TASL-credit.

Fall Principal Professional Learning Series—Register Here!

The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership are pleased to announce upcoming Fall sessions of the Principal Professional Learning Series! 

Sessions will occur the week of November 17 and December 1, 2020.

The upcoming Fall sessions will be completely free, optional, and eligible for 2020-21 TASL-credit. Interested principals will register at the links below.  Live sessions will also be offered to participants of the Rural Principals Network and Intensive Transformation Cohort (ITC). Based on continued interest and participation from Assistant Principals, we will also be offering 2 live sessions for Tennessee Assistant Principals to attend. 

In order to register for upcoming live sessions of the PPLS, principals will complete the relevant registration form below: 

In order to register for upcoming live sessions of the PPLS, Assistant Principals will complete the relevant registration form below: 

Assistant Principal Fall Sessions—Registration Form 

Session Topics, Schedule & Recordings

Academic Year Sessions:

Session 1 (Week of May 4) - Effective Digital Learning Strategies
Schools and educators across Tennessee have been thrust into the realm of digital teaching and learning.
Some are doing it exceedingly well, while others are struggling to facilitate student learning in our new
reality. Issues of digital equity and access are contributing to the challenges. This seminar will explore
effective practices in on-line and remote instruction to promote student learning and success.

Session 1 Video Recording—Effective Digital Learning Strategies

All session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership and the American Institutes for Research.

Session 1 Resources

Session 1 Remote Learning Action Planning Guide and Playlist

Session 1 TASL and Feedback Surveys

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region:

Mid Cumberland and South Central CORE—Session 1 TASL and Feedback Survey

Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE—Session 1 TASL and Feedback Survey

First TN and East TN CORE—Session 1 TASL and Feedback Survey

Southeast and Upper Cumberland CORE—Session 1 TASL and Feedback Survey

Session 2 (Week of May 11) - Student Social Emotional Support & Wellness
Social distancing can create stress and anxiety for children and young adults. Disruption of routine, lack of
connection to teachers and peers, and in some cases dysfunction and distraction in the home can
substantially impact not only academics, but also student wellness and emotional health as well. This
professional learning session will consider challenges around mental health and wellness in the Coronavirus
era, as well as strategies and promising practices to provide social and emotional support for students.

Session 2—Student Social Emotional Support & Wellness Video Recording

All session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership and the American Institutes for Research.

Session 2 Resources

PPLS Module 2 AIR Supporting Student Resilience Well-Being Self-Assessment Planning Tools

PPLS Module 2 AIR Presentation on Student Well-Being

Session 2 TASL and Feedback Surveys

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Mid-Cumberland and South Central CORE Regions- Module 2 Survey

Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE Regions-Module 2 Survey

First TN and EAST TN CORE Regions-Module 2 Survey

Southeast and Upper Cumberland CORE Regions—Module 2 Survey

Session 3 (Week of May 18) - Leading Remotely: Leveraging Strengths and Setting Boundaries
School principals are frontline educational leaders in this crisis. They have stepped up in remarkable and
even heroic ways to address student, family, staff and community needs. But principals are also facing
unprecedented challenges in their leadership during these turbulent times. Principals are managing a farflung staff, coordinating the largest on-line learning effort in history, balancing myriad interests, and facing
intense scrutiny of each decision, all while working remotely, battling professional isolation, and meeting the
needs of their own household and family. This module will explore strategies, systems, and protocols that will
assist principals in balancing their many priorities, while leveraging their strengths, exercising self-care, and
setting boundaries to make their overwhelming job more manageable at this overwhelming moment.

Session 3 Video Recording- Leading Remotely: Levergaing Strengths and Setting Boundaries

All session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership and Gallup, Inc.

Session 3 Resources:

PPLS Module 3 PDF: Leveraging Our Strengths

PPLS Module 3 Strategies for Remote Working

PPLS Module 3 Remember the Needs of Following During COVID-19

Session 3 TASL Feedback and Surveys:

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Mid Cumberland and South Central CORE Regions Module 3 Survey

Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE Regions Module 3 Survey

First TN and East TN CORE Regions Module 3 Survey

Southeast and Upper Cumberland CORE Regions Module 3 Survey

Summer Sessions:

Session 4 (Week of June 8) – Future Planning I: How Do We Know What Our Students Have Learned?
Summative assessments have been suspended across the state of Tennessee, leaving a significant gap in
student learning data at exactly the moment when such data is needed most to inform differentiation,
intervention, and remediation. This session will explore resources, tools, and strategies to assess and
understand where students are in their learning, with particular emphasis on formative and adaptive
assessments that may provide critical information for educators to structure personalized learning
experiences for all students to excel.

Session 4 Video Recording: Future Planning I: How Do We Know What Our Students Have Learned?

All session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership, Instruction Partners, AIR, and the Learning Accelerator.

Session 4 Resources:

PDF: PPLS Module 4 Assessment Presentation Slides

PDF: TN Department of Education Innovative Assessment Supports

LINK: Instruction Partners’ COVID-19 School Resource Hub

Session 4 TASL Feedback and Surveys:

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Mid-Cumberland and South Central CORE Module 4 Survey

Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE Module 4 Survey

First TN and East TN CORE Module 4 Survey

Southeast and Upper Cumberland 4 Survey

Session 5 (Week of June 15) – Future Planning II: Differentiation, Personalization & Intervention
By the time school resumes in the fall, most Tennessee students will have been away from a traditional
structured learning environment for about six months. Some students will have continued their academic
pursuits, whether through formal or informal educational opportunities. Still other students, due to a variety
of logistical, technological, family, health, and/or equity issues will have engaged in very little learning. This
seminar will examine the possibilities and necessities of restructuring school to personalize and differentiate
instruction for students who may have had very different quarantine experiences.

Session 5 Video Recording : Future Planning II: Differentiation, Personalization & Intervention

All session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership, Instruction Partners, AIR and the Learning Accelerator.

Session 5 Resources:

PDF: Personalized Learning

PDF: TLA Resource Exploration

PDF: Future Planning II

Session 5 TASL Feedback and Surveys:

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Module 5 Survey: Mid Cumberland and South Central CORE

Module 5 Survey: Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE

Module 5 Survey: First TN and East TN CORE

Module 5 Survey: Southeast and Upper Cumberland CORE

Session 6 (Week of June 22) – Future Planning III: Strategic Resource Management
In the midst of the most challenging educational crisis in memory, educators may be dealing the prospect of a
potential fiscal crisis as well. Tennessee schools are highly reliant on sales tax revenue, and with economic
activity at a near standstill, principals will likely be grappling with constrained funding at a time of intense
educational need. This session will look at ways to effectively and efficiently organize school resources (time,
people, and money) to address the differential learning needs of all students. Innovative structural solutions
may need to be employed to meet growing educational needs amidst limited resources.

Session 6 Video Recording: Future Planning III: Strategic Resource Management

Session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership and Education Resource Strategies(ERS).

Session 6 Resources:

PDF: PPLS Module 6 Slides – Resource Management

PDF: ERS Slides – Resource Planning

PDF: Resource Exploration Links

Session 6 TASL Feedback and Surveys:

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Module 6 Survey: Mid Cumberland and South Central CORE

Module 6 Survey: Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE

Module 6 Survey: First TN and East TN CORE

Module 6 Survey: Southeast and Upper Cumberland CORE

Session 7 (Week of June 29) – Beyond Quarantine: Resetting School Culture, Collaboration & Community
Educators and school staffs will have also been physically separated for some six months when school
resumes in the fall, requiring careful thought as to how to re-establish and re-invigorate school culture,
community, and collaboration. This final professional learning unit will focus on the task of rallying the staff,
students, parents and stakeholders of a school around a common purpose, as well as communicating new and
established norms, protocols, and rituals. Clear expectations, effective communication, and stakeholder buyin will all be critical dynamics examined to support successful reunification.

Session 7 Video Recording: Future Planning III: Resetting School Culture, Collaboration & Community.

Session recordings and materials provided courtesy of University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership, AIR, and Education First, Inc.

Session Resources

VIDEO: American Institutes for Research on school culture & structures

VIDEO: Education First on The Collaboration Continuum

VIDEO: Joint presentation on a specific example of school collaboration

PDF: PPLS TN Module 7 Culture Slides

PDF: AIR – PPLS Module 7 Culture Research MC Slides

PDF: EdFirst CLF Empathy Webinar Deck

PDF: EdFirst CLF Collaboration Continuum

Surveys for Session 7

Upon completion of the video recording and resources above, please complete the survey below for your CORE region if you intend to earn TASL Credit:

Module 7 Survey: Mid Cumberland and South Central CORE

Module 7 Survey: Northwest and Southwest-Memphis CORE