Rockingham Learns for Life: A New Era of Professional Growth episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 5, 2025 · 18 MIN

Rockingham Learns for Life: A New Era of Professional Growth

from RCPS Community Partner Cafe · host RCPS Comm

Professional development is an essential part of education, but how do we ensure it’s meaningful, relevant, and engaging for teachers? In this episode, host Katie LaPira sits down with Donna Abernathy, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and Learning, to discuss how Rockingham County Public Schools is reimagining professional development—designed by educators, for educators. Donna shares how RCPS is prioritizing teacher choice, hands-on learning, and peer-led sessions through the upcoming Rockingham Learns for Life conference. Learn how this new approach is shaping professional growth across the district, why teacher-led PD is a game-changer, and how you can get involved. We are now accepting proposals for the Rockingham Learns for Life 2025 Conference, held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at East Rockingham High School & River Bend Elementary. Sessions will be one hour and should provide interactive, actionable strategies for educators. Proposals should align with the conference goals: Academic Excellence, Serving Diverse Learners, and Mental & Behavioral Wellbeing, reflecting the RCPS Comprehensive Plan (2024-2029). Submit your proposal here: Proposal Form. Conference planners will review applications throughout the spring. Tune in to learn how this new initiative is shaping the future of professional growth in RCPS.

Professional development is an essential part of education, but how do we ensure it’s meaningful, relevant, and engaging for teachers? In this episode, host Katie LaPira sits down with Donna Abernathy, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and Learning, to discuss how Rockingham County Public Schools is reimagining professional development—designed by educators, for educators. Donna shares how RCPS is prioritizing teacher choice, hands-on learning, and peer-led sessions through the upcoming Rockingham Learns for Life conference. Learn how this new approach is shaping professional growth across the district, why teacher-led PD is a game-changer, and how you can get involved. We are now accepting proposals for the Rockingham Learns for Life 2025 Conference, held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at East Rockingham High School & River Bend Elementary. Sessions will be one hour and should provide interactive, actionable strategies for educators. Proposals should align with the conference goals: Academic Excellence, Serving Diverse Learners, and Mental & Behavioral Wellbeing, reflecting the RCPS Comprehensive Plan (2024-2029). Submit your proposal here: Proposal Form. Conference planners will review applications throughout the spring. Tune in to learn how this new initiative is shaping the future of professional growth in RCPS.

NOW PLAYING

Rockingham Learns for Life: A New Era of Professional Growth

0:00 18:10

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

She’s a Hazard to Herself She’s a Hazard Hi there, I’m Mallory, and I’d like to invite you into our world with “She’s a Hazard to Herself!” Join us as we navigate life with Multiple Sclerosis from the seat of my power wheelchair. Discover stories of resilience, family, and the community we’ve built around chronic illness. Whether you’re impacted by MS or want to learn from our journey, there’s something here for you. So why wait? Subscribe to “She’s a Hazard to Herself” on your favorite podcast app and be part of our journey today. Let’s lift each other up, one episode at a time! Tips, News and Stories for Older Adults Esther C Kane CAPS, C.D.S. "Tips, News, and Stories for Older Adults" delivers weekly insights tailored for seniors. We bring you summaries of curated news, practical advice, and inspiring stories that matter to the 55+ community. From health and finance to technology and lifestyle, our content keeps you informed and engaged. Sourced from trusted outlets, each episode offers valuable information for navigating your golden years. Join us as we explore aging with positivity, wisdom, and engaging stories. Your perfect companion for staying active, learning, and embracing life's later chapters. Prayer Time Heir Waves Prayer Time A podcast especially for our Prayer Time community NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of RCPS Community Partner Cafe?

This episode is 18 minutes long.

When was this RCPS Community Partner Cafe episode published?

This episode was published on March 5, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Professional development is an essential part of education, but how do we ensure it’s meaningful, relevant, and engaging for teachers? In this episode, host Katie LaPira sits down with Donna Abernathy, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this RCPS Community Partner Cafe episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!