Hockinson School District’s Upward Together initiative places student learning at the center of everything we do. Aligned and effective classroom instruction is key to reaching our district goals. To support this work, Hockinson School District provides built-in common professional development that gives teachers meaningful time to learn with and from one another.
To learn more about how this work comes to life, we spoke with Jennifer Sawyer, Teaching & Learning Coordinator for HSD. The interview is below.
How does Hockinson School District create professional development opportunities for educators?
Yearlong, shared professional development supports student learning.
Professional development kicks off for Hockinson educators at Learning Improvement Days (LID) at the start of the year and continues on the October in-service day.
Throughout the year, this work is reinforced during collaboration times led by principals and teachers, including sessions during two half-day releases.
Professional development sessions are designed based on district initiatives and needs specific to each individual school building. For example, Hockinson middle and high schools have been receiving training on the coming transition to Google Classroom in 2026-27 during the release days. Hockinson Heights Elementary School educators began work on the Science of Reading last year, and the team is continuing its focus on foundational literacy skills. Elementary release days have been focused on small group reading instruction, including learning walks into teacher classrooms to observe small group instruction in action.
Teacher and principal input helps to shape professional development topics at each building.
What are ‘learning walks,’ and how do they benefit classrooms?
Structured classroom observations and collaboration
Learning walks allow educators in Hockinson to visit other teachers' classrooms and then follow a protocol for discussing that observation and impacts on student learning.
Learning walks create opportunities for teachers to collaborate and problem solve together, shaping a team mentality that encourages all teachers to learn from one another. Research shows that when teachers believe that they can meet all students' needs, this confidence has a powerful influence on student learning.
Learning walks benefit all classrooms, as educators learn new skills and ways of delivering instruction. It’s part of our commitment to continual improvement and growth.
How does shared professional development help align instruction?
Collaborating and preparing every child to reach their full potential is our superpower.
Shared professional development helps to align instruction across classrooms and schools in Hockinson.
When educators engage in the learning together, they have the opportunity to discuss school and district visions and how they will be put into practice in classrooms.
As Hockinson educators, we believe in the ability of every child to learn at high levels, and we work to reduce barriers in the classroom for student learning. It does not matter if someone has been teaching for 10 days or 10 years, we are all on the same page about what is important in Hockinson classrooms and collaborate on how to do that work well together. This is a powerful strength we share in Hockinson.
What changes have emerged since implementing learning walks and common PD?
Meaningful shifts in classroom instruction
After four years of implementing common professional development in Hockinson, we’re seeing meaningful growth in our team of educators. In that time, we have learned about Universal Design for Learning, focused on priority standards and updated scopes and sequences for instruction, participated in learning walks to better understand the life of a student in Hockinson classrooms, and more.
As a result of this work, our incredible teachers have taken up the mantle to open up access to rigorous learning for all students. Teachers are delivering systematic instruction in foundational reading skills. They are providing students with multiple ways to use their creativity and know how to demonstrate learning in classrooms. Teams of teachers are collaborating weekly about what students need to learn, how we are monitoring that learning, and how we will meet the needs of those who need extra support.
The expertise of our team benefiting more students as we share ideas and collaborate on best instructional practices. Our students are learning and growing every day as we continue to align in our work as educators.
How does this work shape students’ day-to-day learning experience?
Greater alignment across classrooms and schools
One outcome of common professional learning is greater consistency in core instruction. This means that all first graders are getting the same foundational skills and practice needed to be ready for the second grade, or that all algebra students are getting the core instruction needed to advance to higher levels of mathematics like geometry and Algebra II.
We’re working to close gaps in learning for students so that they can all learn at the highest levels possible. We are seeing students be successful in their daily endeavors, and it is showing up through the data that we use to monitor their learning, through their grades, and through student participation and work.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Hockinson educators are passionate about the students that we serve and the subjects that they teach. They want to see all students achieve and succeed, and are working hard to provide learning opportunities that are relevant and intentional for our students. I am honored to do this work alongside such caring individuals and to provide continued support for our teachers.
This is work we do with our hearts every single day because it matters for the students of Hockinson every single day.