“On the whole, most researchers agree that local professional development programs typically have weak effects on practice because they lack focus, intensity, follow-up, and continuity.” In other words, what we do to train teachers fails to make them better teachers.

Winning is less about attracting the best parts of the talent pie than about growing the pie.

value of practicing something

To practice is to declare, I can be better.

muscle memory or mental circuitry and become habit—for better or worse. Practice all the wrong moves and your team will execute the wrong moves when it’s time to perform. Practice without intentionality and you will perform without much intentionality. A critical goal of practice, then, should be ensuring that participants encode success—that they

“The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers.”

but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way.”

culture of openness, transparency, and humility.

The goal is not to be good at basic skills and then move on. The goal, again, is to be great at the most important things.