Unlocking Growth Through Job Embedded Professional Development

Great teaching drives student success—and high-impact professional development drives great teaching. According to a 2023 meta-analysis of job-embedded professional development (JEPD), these integrated PD models produce medium-to-large effects on teacher performance and medium effects on student achievement.

When districts connect feedback to job‑embedded professional development (PD), every walkthrough or formal evaluation becomes an opportunity for growth. The new Professional Development feature in Evaluation makes this connection seamless—helping administrators assign, track, and report PD that directly addresses each teacher’s needs.

Below are five proven strategies to move from insight to impact.

1. Tag PD Modules Directly from Rubric Indicators

During an observation, evaluators can click‑to‑tag PD modules that align with specific rubric indicators. The teacher receives a tailored learning activity linked to the exact skill observed—no extra emails, no separate systems.

Why it works: Teachers see an immediate bridge between feedback and action, increasing buy‑in and reducing time to improvement.

2. Use Observation Trends to Target High‑Impact Skills

Evaluation aggregates data across observations, revealing patterns—such as common areas for growth within a grade level. District leaders can then assign PD that addresses those shared needs, maximizing the impact of limited PD minutes.

Why it works: Research shows that sustained, targeted PD produces medium‑to‑large effects on teacher performance (Balta, Amendum, & Fukkink, 2023).

3. Empower Teacher Choice with Self‑Selected PD Paths

Autonomy matters. Teachers can browse a curated library and enroll in modules aligned to their personal goals. When self‑selected topics complement evaluator‑assigned tasks, ownership and engagement soar.

Why it works: Adult‑learning theory tells us choice fuels motivation and deeper learning.

4. Automate Follow‑Up and Progress Tracking

As teachers complete modules, Evaluation automatically updates PD hours, task status, and linked rubric indicators. Administrators can monitor completion in real time—no more paper tracking or manual spreadsheets.

Why it works: Timely data enables instructional coaches to intervene early and celebrate milestones, sustaining momentum.

5. Close the Loop with Reflection and Coaching

After PD completion, prompt teachers to upload evidence or reflections—then schedule a quick coaching conversation. Embedding this checkpoint in the platform reinforces transfer of learning to the classroom.

Why it works: Reflection and feedback are critical components of job‑embedded PD that translate knowledge into practice.

‍Ready to Transform Your PD Strategy?

By integrating observation feedback with personalized, on‑demand PD, districts create a continuous cycle of feedback, learning, and improved instruction—all within one platform.  

With the launch of the new Professional Development feature in the Evaluation platform, districts now have a research-backed way to empower educators through on-demand, personalized professional development (PD)—all within a single, easy-to-use system.

Ready to see the impact for yourself?

‍Click here to discover how Evaluation will power your district’s growth goals.  

If your school is interested in new ways to improve the learning experience for children, you may also be interested in automating tasks and streamlining processes so that your teachers have more time to teach. Education Advanced offers a large suite of tools that may be able to help:

• Evaluation: A solution for documenting every step of the staff evaluation process, including walk-throughs, self-evaluations, supporting evidence, reporting, and performance analytics.
• Pathways: A graduation tracking tool that enables administrators and counselors to create, track, and analyze graduation pathways, ensuring secondary students stay on track to graduate.
• TestHound: Our test accommodation software helps schools coordinate thousands of students across all state and local K-12 assessments while considering various accommodations, such as for reading disabilities, physical disabilities, and translations.