Education in Transition: What Teachers Need to Know Now With Linda Darling-Hammond

   

Topics: Curriculum and Instruction, Health and Wellness, Middle Level, Principal Pipeline, Professional Learning, School Culture and Climate, Student Engagement

“We are here on this Earth to learn from each other”

Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond


In this episode, Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute, explores how teacher preparation is evolving, the role of AI in education, and what it means to truly prepare students for the future.


Hosted by NAESP member, author, and keynote speaker Adam Welcome, NAESP Leadership Conversations returns for Season 2, offering fresh insights and professional growth opportunities from top educational thought leaders. In each conversation, you’ll discover innovative strategies to enhance your leadership, foster collaboration, increase job satisfaction, and gain practical tools to apply in your daily work.

 Top Takeaways:

  1. Support new teachers with hands-on learning. If you mentor aspiring educators, advocate for residency programs that offer immersive, practical training alongside experienced teachers.
  2. Encourage teacher retention through stability. Schools thrive when teachers stay long-term—help create a supportive environment that builds confidence and competence in new educators.
  3. Use AI strategically in your teaching. AI can streamline lesson planning and enhance project-based learning, but always approach it with a critical lens to ensure it adds value.
  4. Prioritize social-emotional learning (SEL). Academic success alone isn’t enough—integrate SEL into your teaching to help students develop resilience, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.
  5. Prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. Focus on skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and creativity rather than just content knowledge—these will serve students in an evolving workforce.
  6. Move beyond ranking and sorting students. Shift the focus from competition to collaboration by fostering a growth mindset and helping students see learning as a lifelong journey.
  7. Rethink the role of homework. Make assignments meaningful—avoid excessive drilling and instead design homework that reinforces key skills in a relevant, engaging way.
  8. Integrate project-based learning into assignments. When homework connects to students’ interests and real-world applications, it transforms from a chore into an opportunity for deeper learning.
  9. Help students build durable skills. Employers seek individuals who are flexible and proactive—encourage students to develop agency, leadership, and adaptability in their learning.
  10. Advocate for school transformation. Education must evolve to meet the needs of today’s learners. Push for policies, curricula, and teaching methods that align with the changing world.

Reflection Questions:

  • How can I better support early-career teachers in my school or district?
  • What AI tools could I explore to enhance my teaching without compromising meaningful student engagement?
  • How do I currently define student success, and what changes could I make to reflect a broader view?
  • What shifts can I make in my homework practices to ensure they are purposeful and engaging?
  • What durable skills am I helping my students develop, and how can I be more intentional in fostering them?