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Why family engagement

Family engagement in K-12 education is a must when it comes to enhancing student achievement and fostering equitable learning environments. The research is clear: When families are involved in their children’s education, students achieve:
  • • Higher grades
  • • Better attendance
  • • Less discipline issues
  • • Increased graduation rates
But taking family engagement from theory to daily practice in school is easier said than done. Language differences, implicit biases, technology gaps, or unclear school communication strategies are just a few of the ways school teams struggle. Teacher turnover and a lack of time to meet with families makes life harder still.

Focus on what works

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What you get

Engaging professional learning

Practical lessons on the topics that matter to you & your schools.

Delivered by top K-12 educators

Respected educators & authors share proven frameworks for your toughest challenges.

Built for busy teams

Password-protected learning portal & mobile app makes content accessible from anywhere.

Focused on achievable outcomes

Asynchronous courses & live virtual cohorts give educators ‘voice & choice’ in professional-learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RocketPD?

RocketPD is a leading professional learning community for K-12 educators and their teams. Our selection of asynchronous video-based courses, live virtual cohorts and custom implementation workshops were designed to provide access to “journey-based” professional learning, delivered by the world’s top experts, on the topics of strategic importance to K-12 schools. Learn more about the Empowered Educator Experience and how it’s different from what you’re currently doing.

What do I get when I sign up for the RocketPD Learning Community?

The RocketPD Community Newsletter is free (sign up here) and delivered monthly via email. In it, you’ll receive a curated selection of research, inspiring stories and resources confronting the toughest challenges facing K-12 education. As a member of the RocketPD Learning Community, you’ll also receive priority access and pricing to our growing library of video-based asynchronous courses and live virtual professional learning cohorts on a range o topics, including family engagement, teacher supervision, blended learning, AI in schools, school culture, adult wellness, reading, communications and more. Plus, invitations to live and virtual special events featuring our roster of nationally and internally recognized speakers and educators.

What professional learning solutions are available through RocketPD?

In addition to our free Community Newsletter, RocketPD partners with school districts to provide video-based asynchronous and live virtual cohort-based professional-learning programs delivered by nationally and internationally recognized speakers and authors on topics of strategic importance to K-12 schools.

Products include:

  1. RocketPD LaunchPad – Annual subscription-based service, featuring anytime access to a growing library of asynchronous video-based courses. Each course features 3 key lessons with practical outcomes and a downloadable PDF workbook for self-reflection and practice.
  2. Live Virtual Cohorts – Seasonal live virtual events provide an opportunity to dive deep and collaborate with top thought leaders and education colleagues on topics of critical importance to school districts and their respective communities. All cohorts are multi-session and include password-protected access to recordings and additional resources for deeper exploration. Teams are encouraged to register and the price goes down the more people you bring.
  3. Custom Implementation Workshops – Professional learning is a journey, not a checkbox. In addition to video-based asynchronous and live virtual cohorts, our school partners have the opportunity to engage our thought leaders in custom virtual and on-site workshops designed to take critical initiatives and programs from buy-in to sustainable implementation.
What topics are available through RocketPD?

We’re always expanding our topics. As of this school year, the following topics are available for exploration: family engagement, teacher supervision, school culture, blended learning, AI in schools, school leadership, adult wellness, reading instruction and school communications. Don’t see a topic you’re interested in here? Email us at [email protected] to see how we can help.

What education thought leaders are featured on RocketPD?

A sample of our lineup includes content from Dr. Luvelle Brown, author of Create a Culture of Love; Dr. Steve Constantino, author of the Engage Every Family; Beth Estill, internationally recognized reading specialist and phonics expert; Dr. Michael Hinojosa, former superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and National Superintendent of the Year; Dr. A.J. Juliani, best-selling author and educator; Kim Marshall, former Boston principal and author of the Marshall Memo; Carla Tantillo-Philibert, adult SEL expert, author and founder of Class Catalyst; Dr. Douglas Reeves, international education consultant and author; Veronica V. Sopher, former school communications director and nationally recognized speaker and presenter; and Dr. Catlin Tucker, former Teacher of the Year and author of the Shift to Student-Led. In addition to content from these leaders, RocketPD adds new content and thought leaders to the platform on a rolling basis.

Who can sign up for RocketPD?

Our content has been created with the needs of individual educators and school district teams in mind. To date, we have delivered thousands of hours of professional learning to more than 4,000 educators across more than 850 school districts. Titles include: teacher, principal, curriculum director, technology director, professional development director, family engagement director, Title I director, assistant superintendent, superintendent and more. Individual and team packages are available.

Why should I sign myself (or my school team) up for RocketPD?

Two reasons: (1) Educators learn best from other educators, but finding quality professional learning delivered by compelling instructors is hard; (2) Getting buy-in from teachers and staff on key initiatives means supporting their professional curiosities and continuous development around those key initiatives. RocketPD was created to help schools and school districts address both of these critical needs, while helping educators achieve and sustain strategic goals and professional learning and/or career objectives over time.

Can I use grants and/or federal dollars to pay for RocketPD?

Absolutely. We’ve had educators use a variety of federal, state and local funds and grants to procure our services for their teams. Title II and ESSER funds were the two most-used resources in the 2023-2024 school year. Payment plans are also available for educators on a case-by-case basis.

How do I sign up for RocketPD?

You can sign up using the button on this page and following the instructions that follow. If you have questions before signing up, please fill out the available form and hit “submit” and someone on the RocketPD Team will reach out shortly to answer any questions and walk you through the process as it relates to you, your school or your district. You can also email us any time at [email protected].

Want to learn more about our content, or have a question about one of our thought leaders?

RESOURCES

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In this blog post, Dr. Catlin Tucker, a blended learning expert, discusses how schools can reimagine traditional education by centering students in their learning. Drawing from her experience, she advocates for instructional models that leverage technology to enhance collaboration, critical thinking, and engagement.

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Use this five-part framework to support adult well-being in your schools with Carla Tantillo Philibert

Supporting adult well-being in schools is no longer just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. As stress levels rise among students, the adults in our schools, particularly those on the front lines, are struggling too. In fact, research shows that teachers are nearly twice as likely to suffer from job-related stress compared to other industries. This ongoing pressure can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression, yet only 2% of schools offer comprehensive mental health and wellness support for staff.

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3 ways to engage disengaged families with Dr. Steve Constantino

Family engagement is a proven catalyst for student success, but what about families who seem disengaged? According to Dr. Steve Constantino, a former school leader and expert on family engagement, the key lies in changing our approach.

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