The Importance of Impactful Professional Development

Kaila Piepkow
Apr 8
2 min read

This week, we kicked off a new project with our team of educators through a professional development session designed to inspire, engage, and prepare.

"Death of Dobby" by Zeqe in Portland, Oregon

For this project, students will be exploring the beauty of Persian Miniatures and creating wax engravings that illustrate a story, poem, song, or movie that personally resonates with them. It’s a project rooted in both storytelling and artistic expression. To prepare the Ann Arbor educators who will be delivering this project, we crafted a Professional Learning session that gave them the tools—and the confidence—to bring this idea to life in their classrooms.

The focus of this session was on "teaching through doing." We immersed our team in the same creative process they’ll be guiding their students through, turning professional development into an opportunity for hands-on learning, authentic connections, and meaningful discussions.

At the heart of our work is the belief that art is a tool for learning. That means we prioritize the process of creation—emphasizing exploration over perfection, collaboration over competition, and the joy of learning through art.

Here’s what made this professional development so meaningful:

Authentic connections: The hands-on process encouraged teachers to share personally meaningful ideas and moments, sparking conversations and connections over shared interests. This not only deepened their engagement with one another but also highlighted how this project could foster meaningful connections with their students. By experiencing the project themselves, teachers reflected on how storytelling and art can create opportunities to bond with students on a deeper, more personal level while weaving creativity and culture into lessons.
Hands-on learning: Creating art together allowed teachers to connect deeply with the process, gaining firsthand insight into the project's nuances. This experience not only sparked creativity but also provided an opportunity to troubleshoot and anticipate classroom needs—whether in differentiating instruction, preparing materials, or tailoring learning experiences for their students. By engaging directly with the project, teachers developed a clearer understanding of how to guide their students effectively while adapting the lessons to fit their unique classroom contexts.
Community-building: Sharing our creations and the stories behind them reminded us of the power of storytelling to build connections and celebrate individuality.