Professional Learning – From Classrooms to Continents

When teachers hear the phrase professional learning, a variety of thoughts come to mind — some inspiring, some… well, let’s just say less so. In education, one of our ongoing challenges is offering teachers real choice, autonomy, and trust when it comes to their own learning. After all, we’re the ones who teach choice and voice to our students — shouldn’t we have a little of that ourselves?

The educators featured in this article didn’t wait for the perfect PL to land in their inbox. They took the reins, often spending evenings and weekends applying for grants, fellowships, and even working second jobs to fund their learning adventures. They’ve found creative ways to attend conferences, connect with global experts, and bring those experiences back to their classrooms, colleagues, and professional repertoire.

So… why go to all that trouble? Why spend precious time and energy chasing professional learning opportunities? Because for these educators, learning doesn’t just happen in a Collaborative Learning Team meeting — it happens in the Amazon Rainforest with naturalists, in Antarctic waters with penguins, conducting microcosm research in Canada focused on climate change, and in conversations with teachers across the globe. They know that growth can happen anywhere, and they’ve made it their mission to seek it.

For these four APS educators, educational travel has become a powerful form of professional learning. Experiencing cultures firsthand — especially those that reflect our students’ backgrounds — is an immersive way to grow both personally and professionally. It brings global perspectives into classrooms, fosters empathy and adaptability, and provides a much-needed dose of inspiration in a time when teaching is, let’s be honest, not for the faint of heart.

There’s no substitute for standing in a rainforest and later telling your students, “I saw this with my own eyes,” or describing the icy plunge of penguins in Antarctica with the kind of excitement that only comes from being there. Teachers are always planting seeds — and these experiences help us plant seeds of curiosity about the world.

So, who are these globe-trotting educators? Meet four APS employees turned friends, bonded by their shared love of learning and adventure. All are National Board Certified Teachers — and part of a community of APS educators who are passionately pursuing professional growth in inspiring ways.

• Jennifer Burgin, a C3 (Cross-Curricular Connections) Educator at Hoffman-Boston Elementary, originally from Texas
• Erin Kowalevicz, a longtime 1st grade teacher at Randolph Elementary, now an instructional coach, originally from Maryland
• Megan Zelasko, a 2nd and 3rd grade looping teacher at Campbell Elementary, originally from New York
• Dr. Andi Webb, the author of this article, a K–5 teacher and instructional coach, now a professional learning specialist in the Office of Professional Learning/Syphax, originally from North Carolina

When we talk about our journeys, we laugh about how little we knew at the start — especially about applying for funding. We learned by doing, by failing, by asking for help, and by trying again. In other words, we practiced what we preach to our students.
Individually, we’ve been in education for 15–25 years. Collectively, we’ve participated in professional learning across all seven continents and in 140 countries. We’ve met educators teaching in state-of-the-art, sustainability-focused schools with cutting-edge technology — and others working in classrooms without desks, where students sit on dirt floors, and the only restroom is a latrine shared by many. We’ve kicked latrines in the middle of the night to shoo away bats, held tarantulas with hesitant hands, and even tasted termites. In those moments — equal parts curiosity, fear, and wonder — we discovered just how far we were willing to go in the name of learning.These experiences have changed our lives — and we continue to spend our time away from work seeking new learning opportunities and helping others do the same.

And yes, it can be done. Through grants, fellowships, and creative funding, we’ve secured nearly $2 million collectively for professional learning and instructional materials — not just for ourselves, but for our students, our schools, and our communities.
We’ve learned that when teachers are empowered to pursue the learning that fuels them, the ripple effect is immeasurable. Classrooms become more vibrant. Students see the world through wider lenses. And educators rediscover the joy that brought them to this work in the first place.

If you’re curious about how to begin your own professional learning journey — whether it’s across the globe or right in your school — let’s connect. Reach out to Dr. Andi Webb in the Office of Professional Learning if you’d like to:

• Learn more about global professional learning opportunities
• Host a session with your colleagues or team
• Bring a learning experience to your school

So if you’ve ever dreamed of learning beyond your walls — whether it’s across the globe or across disciplines — know this: you’re not alone, and you’re more than capable. The world is waiting, and your journey can start with a single step.