But being an educator is hard — and, in the wake of a global pandemic, that job isn’t getting any easier.
Our educators want and need better resources to help them work through the litany of challenges and opportunities students face, from things like AI in classrooms to mental health to teacher training and blended learning to stronger family engagement.
The old sit-and-get approaches of the past never were much good — and certainly won’t work now.
We built RocketPD because school leaders told us they wanted more from their professional-learning experiences.
At RocketPD, we focus on doing three things really well.
Connecting our school partners to the top thought leaders in education
Delivering engaging professional learning on topics of strategic importance
Creating experiences focused on outcomes — accessible from anywhere
Unlike traditional professional learning, which stops when the session ends, each of our programs is designed to take your team on a deep, multi-phased exploration of their topic of interest.
We vet each of our thought leaders and design learning frameworks to ensure the value they provide quickly moves from theory to practice within your organization.
That’s because all of programs are:
- Learning forward and/or standards-aligned
- Practical & applicable
- Sustainable over time
- Job embedded (with opportunities for collaboration)
- Measurable
And the best part?
If you’re a superintendent, principal, PD coordinator or curriculum director, all of our resources are available in one place and customizable to the needs of your schools. No more fruitless Google searches or worries over quality or consistency of programming. We offer everything from virtual, collaborative cohort experiences, to video-based courses, to customizable full and half-day sessions specifically built to meet the strategic needs of your schools and teams.
If you’re looking for ways to better engage your teachers and staff this year and support their professional growth, and if you’re tired of the same old, boring no-good PD experience, we hope you’ll stick around and explore our expansive universe of top-notch presenters and professional learning. If you have questions, or want an introduction to any of our rockstar thought leaders, fill out the short form below or join our newsletter and start your journey!
Sign up todayWho we are
At RocketPD, our mission is to create the world’s most-engaged community of school leaders committed to bringing more agency and empowerment to K-12 classrooms.
Corey Murray CO-FOUNDER
K-12 program strategy, audience & content
A proud product of K-12 public schools, and someone with Cerebral Palsy, Corey credits the educators in his life with teaching him how to turn his differences into strengths. A former education journalist and K-12 content marketing executive, Corey works with RocketPD’s roster of thought leaders to design and produce impactful learning experiences.
Jesse Leib CO-FOUNDER
Thought leader & district relationships
Having struggled with a severe attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder throughout school, Jesse credits the educators in his life with helping him stay the course. With more than 20 years working with K-12 school leaders, Jesse has dedicated his career to helping school district leaders explore innovative opportunities in technology and learning. At RocketPD, he works with districts to connect them to new learning opportunities.
Chris Dekmar CO-FOUNDER
Operations & program management
After chasing his dreams in the school band, and later earning his MBA at the University of West Georgia, Chris went on to lead sales operations for an education technology startup in Vermont before launching his own digital marketing agency. At RocketPD, he runs the team that keeps the lights on and the machinery humming.
The Team
Justin Andersen
SCHOOL & DISTRICT RELATIONSHIPS
Bridget Dooley
SCHOOL & DISTRICT RELATIONSHIPS
Gerardo Grosso
OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTS
Patricia Useche
CUSTOMER SUCCESS & IMPLEMENTATION
Umang Padh
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Tamara Prepanoska
SALES OPERATIONS
Kevin Adkins
VISUAL DESIGNER
Dr. Karin Holacka
INDEPENDENT INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
(BLUE Jean Educational Consulting)
Dr. Denise Beutel
INDEPENDENT INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
(BLUE Jean Educational Consulting)
Our advisors
John Gamba
Entrepreneur in residence & director of special programs, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
Shannon Cox
Superintendent
Montgomery County Educational Service Center, Ohio
Dr. Luvelle Brown
Superintendent
Ithaca City School District, New York
Dr. Stephen Murley
Former Superintendent
Green Bay Area School District, Wisconsin
Dr. Steve Constantino
Author, 5 Simple Principles to Engage Every Family; former superintendent, chief academic officer, state superintendent, VA Department of Education
Dr. Stacey Butterfield
Superintendent
Jenks Public Schools, Oklahoma
Ready for an entirely new professional-learning experience that meets the needs of teachers and staff?
RESOURCES
Our universe is infinite — stick around, explore!
From Buy-In to Ownership: Why Change in Schools Fails — and What to Do About It with Eric Sheninger
Shifting from staff buy-in to genuine ownership is the key to sustainable school change. Eric Sheninger’s RocketPD cohort shows leaders how to co-create vision, start small, and empower educators to lead, ensuring initiatives succeed beyond compliance and withstand initiative fatigue.
Teacher Time Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Prerequisite for Great Teaching with Angela Watson
Teachers don’t need more tech; they need time. Angela Watson shows how 50-hour weeks erode instruction, then offers focus blocks, smart automation, and “good-enough” planning to reclaim hours. Restored teacher time drives stronger learning for students.
Why PBL Is the Strategy We Need Now — For Students and Their Teachers with John Spencer
AI is redefining assignments, and overcrowded classrooms need relief. Project-Based Learning lets students tackle real problems, produce meaningful work, and frees teachers to coach. John Spencer outlines pragmatic frameworks and pitfalls, proving now’s the time for authentic, student-centered projects learning.
Join our community of 5,000+ educators
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