Choosing effective professional development opportunities can be a high-pressure decision for principals, instructional coaches, and administrators looking to invest in high-quality EdTech for students and innovative pedagogy for staff.
This immediately makes me think of a famous SpiderMan quote: With great power, comes great responsibility. One way that school leaders can directly invest in their teachers and the quality of education for our children is through high-value professional development workshops.
Schooling America has made it easy for you by thoroughly researching and compiling a list of the top 10 most effective, pedagogy enriching professional development opportunities for teachers in 2025-2026.
Your staff will leave these workshops with Next-Generation skills, ready to tackle the challenges that teachers will face in the coming years with technology and tech literacy on the rise.
Before we start, let’s establish why it is so important that administrators invest in high value professional development for their staff.
Investing in High Value Professional Development is Essential
One of the most distinguished education journals, the IMSE Journal, has reported on the benefits of professional development for school staff and administrators. A study conducted showed that when teachers attend effective professional training programs, students are more likely to achieve up to a 21% increase in academic performance.
So this shows that not only do students have better learning outcomes as a result, but teachers have the opportunity to refine their pedagogy and grow alongside the ever evolving education system.
It’s 2025, and pedagogical science has changed a lot over the last couple of years. We are witnessing a rise in professional development workshops that we have never seen before to ensure responsible and ethical use for both teachers and students, and to ensure teachers stay ahead of students in the AI race, to keynotes on destigmatizing mental health and maintaining a work life balance.
The really amazing part about the rise in these unconventional keynotes and workshops is that they are being championed by former teachers who truly understand 21st century classroom dynamics, from the social-emotional needs of their students, to keeping up with rapid EdTech advancements in the classroom.
These topics are essential to discuss, because they transform the way teachers are growing alongside the education system, and administrators have the opportunity to open minds and change lives one keynote at a time.
So with that being said, let’s not waste any time and dive right in to the best professional development for 2025-2026.
Top 10 Professional Development for 2025-2026
1. Schooling America
Schooling America is a key example of a former teacher dedicating her career to supporting teachers with Next-Generation Professional Development. Lauren Farrow, the founder, combines years of classroom experience with cultural trends in tech and child development to empower teachers as leaders in education and champions of responsible AI use in schools.
We teach kids about our environment, history, culture, literature, so why are we glossing over Generative AI as if it isn’t one of the most groundbreaking technological advancements that has ever been introduced to our society?
Lauren recognizes the importance of teachers in staying ahead of students so that they can be effective classroom leaders and better prepare them for the tech-dominated future they are going to be working in.
Schooling America offers schools and districts the following services:
- Developing an AI Policy to ensure responsible and ethical use for both teachers and students, and to ensure teachers stay ahead of students in the AI race.
- AI Professional Development for staff designed to reduce time spent on lesson planning and lighten administrative workloads — freeing teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching. The result? Increased student engagement and improved learning outcomes.
- Establishing baseline knowledge for all staff on Generative AI in education, so that your school remains organized and admin is confident all staff is aligned with best practices and not left to their own devices.
AI may not have been something we could have anticipated, but it’s here—and choosing not to learn how to integrate it can ultimately do a disservice to your students. That’s why Schooling America uses research-backed methods and clear, actionable strategies to make the shift AI brings to education less overwhelming. Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call for support in navigating educators and students toward a safe and successful path into the future alongside AI technology with Schooling America.
2. Get Your Teach On
Get Your Teach On offers professional development programs that combine keynotes and content workshops from GYTO presenters from multiple K-12 content areas into a fully customized program tailored to the needs of your school or district. GYTO offers keynote and workshop sessions on topics such as student engagement, teacher self care, progress monitoring, subject-specific strategies, leadership development and more!
You have the option to attend one of their conferences, or to bring the GYTO experience to your school. Additional options include curriculum resources, online courses, books, toolkits, merchandise, coaching, and more. They also offer year-long implementation programs for schools and districts. Teachers will receive a professional development certificate after attending a session. Overall, GYTO is a super fun professional development opportunity that would be a great option for teachers in 2025-2026.
3. Future of Education Technology Conference
The FETC is a hub of innovation that brings educators together across the country. They have been providing educators a space to learn about emerging technologies and practices for more than 40 years. It is where visionary educators and tech leaders go to learn how to revamp K-12 education with innovative tech.
I’m excited to share that I will be speaking at the FETC at the Orange County Convention Center on January 17, 2025, at 8:00 AM. My session, “Generative AI for Education: K-12,” will explore AI’s practical applications, ethical considerations, and strategies for integrating this technology into classrooms to enhance personalized learning and foster critical thinking in the digital age. I am confident that my insights will offer valuable perspectives for attendees seeking to understand AI’s potential impact on the education industry – both now and in the future.
I look forward to connecting with those of you attending FETC and sharing ideas on how we can shape the future of education together.
This is a great conference for educators to attend because they have a history of setting benchmarks for the education industry and allows teachers to network and join a community of innovators.
4. Fostering Resilient Learners, Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS)
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is dedicated to helping educators support exceptional students from PreK through college and beyond. FDLRS offers research-based professional development that empowers teachers to strengthen their practices, integrate assistive technology, engage families, and ensure early intervention for students in need.
These high-quality learning opportunities are designed to help educators expand their skills and make a greater impact in the classroom. By participating in FDLRS training, teachers can enhance their ability to support every student’s success.
5. Social Awakening
Founded by Max Stossel, Social Awakening was created to promote the important conversations that parents and teachers should be having with students about a social media based childhood, and its impact. In his various keynotes, he discusses specific ways technology is designed to be addictive & distracting. At one point in his career, he actually designed notifications to distract people firsthand. He provides tools to help combat these designs, as someone who worked in tech industries running social media platforms for multi-national brands. Max does distinct versions of this talk for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and for college students.
6. Simple K12
Simple K12 makes professional development simple. Just like their name! They allow teachers to access professional development courses whenever and wherever it’s convenient, offering remote learning opportunities. Teachers can choose from a wide range of professional development courses such as Health & Physical education, LMS, Project-Based Learning, School Counseling, School Safety, among many other super valuable topics.
Simple K12 courses are designed and developed by former teachers who support teachers at every point in their educational journey. One of the standout features of Simple K12 is that they provide value driven, actionable advice. The trainers who host the professional development courses are real teachers and educational professionals who are passionate about what they do, so you can apply what you learn immediately.
7. edWeb
I recognize firsthand how important it is to offer teachers and staff professional learning that meets their needs while aligning with district goals. edWeb makes it simple to provide that flexibility. With edWeb, educators can choose from a wide range of free resources — including edWebinars and podcasts — that support their growth in a way that fits their schedules and learning styles.
This online network helps you implement best practices in professional development, ensuring that your teachers have access to the most engaging, effective, and research-backed content. By using edWeb, you’ll be able to create a dynamic, sustainable learning environment that fosters continuous improvement and meets the diverse needs of your team. This is yet another great option for teachers in 2025-2026.
8. Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a variety of professional development opportunities. The Foundations of Teaching for Learning program is designed for anyone teaching — or interested in teaching — across any subject and in any setting, whether in the classroom, at home, or in the workplace. This eight-course programme offers dynamic lessons led by respected professionals from around the Commonwealth, giving educators the opportunity to strengthen their skills in teaching, professionalism, assessment, and more.
As participants move through the program, they’ll not only build their expertise but also connect with a global network of colleagues, enhancing their professional growth along the way. This is an essential professional development opportunity for anyone looking to improve their teaching practice and expand their understanding of effective learning.
The course encourages reflection on your personal teaching journey and offers valuable tools for portfolio development, helping you promote deeper learning and growth in your own classroom.
9. Model Teaching
Model Teaching offers a comprehensive platform with over 500 hours of online course content — accessible anytime, anywhere — designed to support both individual teachers and entire districts. With courses that range from full-length, in-depth programs to 1-hour Quick Courses, educators can engage in self-paced learning, participate in group PLCs, or work through instructional growth plans.
The platform features an Administrator Dashboard, allowing school and district leaders to easily track teacher activity and progress. Best of all, Model Teaching’s instructors handle the training, so educators can focus on applying what they learn in the classroom.
Course content is implementation-focused, providing ready-to-use resources that teachers can apply right away. Each course is designed to support instructional improvement and student success, helping teachers build the skills they need to improve classroom practices and drive student outcomes.
One of their standout features is the flexibility to pay for credits as you go. Schools and districts can access the training they need, when they need it, while ensuring their teams stay on track with focused professional development that drives results.
10. PowerSchool
Provide flexible, online learning with self-paced, in-person, or blended options to meet the diverse professional development needs of teachers and staff. Staff can use PowerSchool to simplify tracking and reporting with clear progress dashboards and detailed online transcripts, while encouraging engagement through badges and micro-credentials. PowerSchool promotes collaboration with online professional learning communities (PLCs) and gathers valuable feedback through surveys and course ratings. Plus, teachers can use this tool to address immediate learning needs by creating or purchasing timely, relevant courses to support remote learning or compliance updates.
Conclusion
As a former teacher, I know just how transformative it can be to attend a high-value professional development workshop. And as technology continues to impact the education sector, we need to ensure there is adequate support for teachers.
Your teachers will thank you for investing in these professional development opportunities, feeling confident to tackle the challenges that teachers will face in the coming years with technology and tech literacy on the rise.
I hope you found some valuable professional development resources through this article, and you yourself take time to think about the implications, both positive and negative, about these cultural shifts for the future that is to come for both teachers and students.
