Instructional Leadership Labs
Professional learning series to prepare you for teacher leadership
Ready to lead beyond your classroom? Register for one of our Instructional Leadership Labs!
These professional learning series are designed for high-performing educators ready to expand their skills to team or adult leadership.
Designed to fit alongside full‑time teaching responsibilities, the labs combine guided video observations with live, virtual coaching to give educators what they need to lead meaningful instructional change.
The three-month Instructional Leadership Lab: Observation and Coaching series is designed for aspiring teacher-leaders who want to sharpen their ability to see instruction clearly and respond with purpose.
The yearlong Instructional Leadership Lab+: Complete Instructional Cycle series is ideal for educators stepping into or strengthening leadership roles, covering planning and data-driven instruction leadership practices as well as observation and feedback.
Instructional Leadership Lab: Observation and Coaching
The Instructional Leadership Lab is a three-month, hands-on professional learning experience designed for aspiring teacher-leaders, to build the core practices of observation and feedback. Through five sessions offered in winter and spring, participants learn how to observe classrooms with precision, collect low-inference data, and identify the highest-leverage action steps to improve teaching and learning.
Participants will practice:
Capturing objective, low-inference observation notes
Identifying instructional strengths and areas for growth
Naming clear, right-sized action steps that drive real improvement
Preparing for focused, meaningful coaching conversations
Join our free info session, November 18, 2026!
Program Details
This series includes professional learning sessions 1–5 (see below), culminating with the chance to engage with an experienced Multi-Classroom Leader® panel, to gain insights into their experiences, and explore the pathways and next steps for applying for an Opportunity Culture® role.
2027 Session Dates: 1—February 10; 2—February 24; 3—March 10; 4—March 24; 5—April 14; Panel—April 28
Time: All sessions are 4:35–6:30 p.m. ET
Cost: $1,050 per person
Payment Options: Payment may be made via credit card on our Shopify site. If registering multiple participants, invoices may be requested for orders over $5,000 by contacting orders@publicimpact.com.
Instructional Leadership Lab+: Complete Instructional Cycle
The Instructional Leadership Lab+ provides a comprehensive development experience for educators stepping into or strengthening teacher-leader roles, to lead a team’s instructional improvement at a deeper level. With eight monthly professional learning sessions offered throughout the school year, this series builds on the Instructional Leadership Lab’s core practices of observation and feedback with planning and data-driven instruction practices to further strengthen learning results.
In addition to covering observation and coaching skills, participants will:
Learn how to lead effective planning meetings that translate standards into strong instruction
Facilitate data meetings that identify trends, uncover misconceptions, and drive targeted responses
Apply proven protocols for supporting teacher growth and student outcomes
Complete a capstone project that integrates observation, coaching, planning, and data practices into a cohesive leadership approach
Enroll by August 28, 2026 for the 2026–27 session!
Key Benefits
- Build credibility and expertise when pursuing a team leader role
- Develop or strengthen essential leadership skills for managing a team of educators
- Gain a deeper understanding of instructional leadership and data-driven decision-making
- Network and collaborate with other aspiring and current teacher-leaders
Added Benefit for Arkansas Educators!
This is an approved pathway for the Lead Professional Educator designation
Program Details
This series includes professional learning sessions 1–8 (see below), culminating in a final capstone evaluation, with participants receiving expert feedback from our instructors throughout the experience.
2026–27 Session Dates: 1—Sept.15, 2026; 2—Oct. 20; 3—Nov. 10; 4—Dec. 8; 5—Jan. 19, 2027; 6—Feb. 23; 7—March 9; 8—April 20; Capstone Project Due May 28, 2027
Time: All sessions are 5:05–7:00 p.m. ET
Cost: $2,000 per person
Payment Options: Payment may be made via credit card on our Shopify site. If registering multiple participants, invoices may be requested for orders over $5,000 by contacting orders@publicimpact.com.
Sessions
Session 1: Introduction to Teacher Leadership & Personal Leadership Vision
This session introduces teacher leadership as a practice rooted in collaboration, influence, and professional responsibility beyond the classroom. Participants clarify a personal leadership vision that aligns with the goals of fostering collaborative cultures and advocating for student learning and the profession, grounding their leadership identity in shared purpose and ethical practice.
Session 2: Ambitious Instruction; Rigorous Teaching Practices
This session focuses on understanding and promoting ambitious, student-centered instructional practices grounded in research and high academic expectations. Participants examine how teacher-leaders support colleagues in using research-based strategies and aligning instruction to meaningful assessments and outcomes.
Session 3: Classroom Observation Foundations: Low-Inference Note-Taking
Participants learn the foundations of effective classroom observation, with an emphasis on collecting objective, low-inference evidence. This work supports professional learning conversations and builds the skills needed to facilitate instructional improvement through accurate analysis of teaching and learning.
Session 4: Virtual Walkthroughs and Instructional Synthesis
This session develops participants’ ability to synthesize trends across multiple classrooms using virtual walkthroughs. Teacher-leaders practice connecting instructional patterns to evidence of student learning, strengthening their capacity to guide instructional improvement and data-informed decision-making.
Session 5: Deeper Instructional Analysis: Coaching Focus
Participants engage in deep analysis of instructional practice to identify high-leverage coaching opportunities. The session emphasizes using observation evidence and student engagement to focus on coaching practices that are most likely to improve learning.
Session 6: Coaching Conversations
This session focuses on developing skills for structured coaching conversations that move from shared evidence to clear action steps. Participants learn to support colleagues’ professional growth while grounding feedback in instructional and assessment evidence.
Session 7: Data-Driven Instruction and Responsive Planning
Participants learn how effective teacher-leaders use student data to inform instructional decisions and adapt their plans in real time. The session emphasizes facilitating collaborative data analysis and supporting continuous professional learning through responsive instructional adjustments.
Session 8: Observation of Team Meetings and Feedback Skills
Focus on observing team planning and data meetings to identify strengths in collaboration and decision making. Participants practice providing feedback that strengthens teams’ use of data and collective instructional capacity.