The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development

From Elena

So many people have launched me, keep me going, remind me of why I do what I do, and make what I do possible. What follows is a brief acknowledgment of some of those people.

My gratitude for Lori Cohen has grown exponentially since we first met. I would not have written this book without her—her contributions were vital, and this is a far stronger book on PD because of her coauthorship. But Lori is not only a gifted facilitator of learning, a masterful storyteller, and a brilliant thinker: Lori is also a generous friend who is very funny and very courageous. It was an honor to witness her growth and learning while writing this book.

I could not have written this book (or many of the previous ones) without Amy Fandrei and Caitlin Schwarzman. Amy is my editor at Jossey‐Bass, and I cannot imagine a more responsive, encouraging editor. I’m also grateful for all the autonomy and creative freedom. Caitlin has provided meticulous feedback and editing on six of my books. Her work on this one was invaluable as she patiently supported me and Lori to meld our voices, stories, and styles, while also honoring our individuality.

I appreciate everyone who has attended a PD session with me and provided thoughtful feedback. I also thank those who have written reviews of my books or the podcast and who engage with me on social media. Those affirmations keep me going through long stretches of solitary writing.

I am endlessly grateful to my coaches. Liz Simons was my first coach role model, and I aspire to emulate her curiosity. Leslie Plettner set me on a most rewarding path. Eloiza Jorge coached me through the most challenging PD experience of my life. Elana Bell has ushered me into a new dimension of truth. Coaches need coaches, and I don’t know where I’d be without the guidance of these women.

I am also grateful to the many people I’ve reached out to—for this book and previous ones—for an endorsement. Often under tight deadlines, these readers have provided meaningful reviews, and their encouragement means so much. I’m especially grateful to Zaretta Hammond, who has been a good friend and colleague for many years.

I work with an incredible group of people. I wouldn’t be able to do a fraction of what I do as a writer, facilitator, podcaster, or leader without my Bright Morning team that currently includes LesLee Bickford, Lori Cohen, Rebecca Blackmer, Debbie Daly, Abby Butler, Jennifer Liu, Becky Barstein, Nick Cains, Maria Dyslin, Nita Creekmore, Jess Levasseur, and Jocelyn Fabello. These are wonderful, fun, kind, thoughtful human beings whose presence I truly enjoy.

My Kenyan dada, Carol Owala, is my co‐dreamer, my favorite person to ask, “What if…?” and to imagine schools that serve every child, every day, in every corner of the world. As we take steps toward manifesting these dreams, I am endlessly excited by what we will create together.

Jeff, Larry and Louie, and Vyetty, Sharon, Barlin, and Dennis remind me of why I do what I do, which is not simply for the sake of justice and liberation, but for the potential of expansive love.

My aunt, Jeanne, and my father, Gilbert, have been cheering me on me since the day I was born. They are not educators, but they read everything I write, listen to my podcast, and do everything they can imagine to encourage me.

My son, Orion, has seen me through the publication of seven books. This translates into something like 7,000 bean and cheese tacos on the nights when I had no energy to cook. (Thank you, also, to the many people who delivered takeout when he couldn’t eat another bean and cheese taco.) It’s a cliché, but this isn’t a book about motherhood, so I’ll just say it: My son is my primary source of motivation and joy. Gratitude feels like only a hint of what I feel toward him.

My husband, Stacey Goodman, is my everything. He makes me possible. In the final week of preparing this manuscript, when I mentioned all that was on my plate, his response was, “Just let me know what I can do to help.” His commitment to support me to be whomever I want and to do whatever I want has always been limitless.

Finally, I must acknowledge the nonhuman creatures who bring me tremendous joy every day. These include the hummingbirds who drink at the feeder outside of my office window, and my cats—Mango, Serena, and Clementine.

I am in awe of the love I receive from so many beings. To all of you: thank you.

From Lori

First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge Elena Aguilar for bringing me on this life‐changing journey. If someone told me several years ago that I would work with Elena Aguilar and eventually coauthor a book with her, I would have fallen out of my seat and told them to get out of town. A series of joyful “talk about our work” conversations soon morphed into a project and then into a book. Throughout the writing process, our collaboration nudged and nourished me. Elena’s mentorship, guidance, partnership, and encouragement have transformed the way I coach, teach, write, and lead PD. I have grown exponentially and am fundamentally changed through working with Elena. My gratitude is as vast as the Pacific Ocean.

Caitlin Schwarzman, our editor, has been a gem and a necessity throughout the drafting stages. Her careful editing and reassurance allowed me to produce stronger and stronger work with each chapter draft. Caitlin’s influence is on every page.

I am a firm believer that we never do anything alone, and this book was largely produced in community. I thank the lineage of mentors who created the conditions for me to lead adult learning: Jane Haladay, who inspired me to be a teacher; with wisdom, wit, and love, Jane taught me to be the best version of myself in classrooms—and in life. Kathy Dixon and Area 3 Writing Project Consultants at UC Davis taught me that “teachers teaching teachers” honors the dignity and expertise of adults; I cut my workshop teeth in those A3WP summer institutes. Janet McGarvey saw my leadership potential, sponsored me, and provided me a platform to lead workshops for California independent school educators. Lise Shelton fostered my ongoing growth and commitment to equity, designing optimal pathways that allowed me to coach and lead adults at our school.

There are not enough exclamation points to communicate my gratitude for my former and current Bright Morning teammates. My former teammates: Noelle Apostol Colin, Janet Baird, and Jessie Cordova buoyed me with intentionality, brilliance, and humor as I learned how to facilitate Bright Morning workshops. Helen Park Truong’s reassuring words affirmed me; her incisive equity lens ensured everything I produced would best meet the needs of all workshop participants.

My current teammates: LesLee Bickford sparks my imagination and ignites my spirit; I credit her for green‐lighting the approach to the Artful Design and Facilitation workshop, a series that inspired this book and brought me infinite joy. My teammate Rebecca “eagle eye” Blackmer is a careful reviewer, a heart‐centered leader, a brilliant human, and a dear friend. I can’t imagine this stage of my professional and personal journey without her. And my teammate Debbie Daly—the paragon of compassion—offers love and support that gives me solace.

I am grateful for the extended wolfpack who supported me throughout the drafting process—LesLee Bickford, Rebecca Blackmer, Elizabeth Denevi, Shoba Farrell, Juna Kim McDaid, Helen Park Truong, Lise Shelton, and Tamisha Williams—for having conversations that sparked my thinking, sharing provocative ideas and asking probing questions, reading chapter snippets and drafts, sending “car polos” and text threads and Bitmojis and notecards that said the exact right thing at the exact right moment, and being an inspiring crew of co‐facilitators, co‐conspirators, and co‐creators of the world I want to inhabit.

I am also grateful for every co‐facilitator, co‐designer, and collaborative partner with whom I’ve worked. There are too many to name. I hope the pages in this book are reflective of what I learned with and from you.

Finally, I want to thank the loves of my life, Amy and Buster. Buster (whose age perplexes me) is my ride‐or‐die canine companion. Whether he’s alive or not by the time this book is published, he’s always going to be the adorable little creature who snores through all the PDs I lead. He teaches me acceptance and keeps me humble. Amy is my partner, my best friend, my favorite person, and my best cheerleader. She believes in a version of me that I strive to become daily. I cannot imagine writing this book without her support.