Congratulations to our 2025 Academy Scholarship & Affiliate Grant Awardees! We are honored to support these exceptional educators on their professional learning journeys. Their dedication to advancing learning for all is both admirable and inspiring.
Mindy Blackman
Patsy Hochman Memorial Academy Scholarship
Frisco Independent School District * Frisco, TX
Mindy is excited about the opportunity to join the Learning Forward Academy to deepen her expertise in designing and implementing high-impact professional learning. With over a decade of experience as a Professional Learning Coordinator and eight years as a campus administrator, she has led large-scale professional learning initiatives, developed mentoring programs, and supported instructional coaching. However, she recognizes that continuous growth is essential to ensuring sustainable and effective learning systems.
Sarah Hedge
Sybil Yastrow Memorial Academy Scholarship
Minneapolis Public Schools * Minneapolis, MN
Sarah believes the Learning Forward Academy experience will offer a unique opportunity to deepen her understanding of how best to provide timely professional learning to support special education teachers. She hopes to develop the necessary tools and strategies that she can then use to improve teacher practices and student performance(s) in her district. She hopes to identify key leverage points in the school system that in turn will help her design a professional learning model aligned with district goals and evaluation system. Her ultimate objective is to develop a national model for job-embedded special education teacher preparation. She is also a parent of a child with special needs.
Stephany Moore
Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship
Rio Rancho Public Schools * Bernalillo, NM
Stephany would like to deepen her knowledge of improving practice and problem-solving skills with strategic decision-making skills. She looks forward to exploring a problem of practice in Rio Rancho Public Schools. Stephany is eager to work through the process and develop a strategic plan. After the Academy experience, she hopes to apply her new skills to other needs in the district and be a part of solution-based practice in leadership.
Emily Munn
Stephanie Hirsh Academy Scholarship
Metro Nashville Public Schools * Nashville, TN
Emily is interested in participating in the Learning Forward Academy because it aligns with her goal of improving educator confidence, practice, and student engagement to promote success across our district. This program will equip her with research-based strategies to address challenges and support high-quality, rigorous instruction in the district’s early postsecondary programs, including IB, Cambridge, AP, and AVID. As Director of Advanced Academics, she aims to enhance teachers’ capacity to deliver effective, rigorous instruction, and the Academy offers valuable tools to further this mission. Emily is eager to join a vibrant, collaborative learning community where she can exchange ideas with educators facing similar challenges and goals. Engaging with colleagues virtually and in person will provide insights she can bring back to her district, enhancing her overall professional learning approach.
Jamar Tyler
Sybil Yastrow Memorial Academy Scholarship
Portsmouth Public Schools * Chesapeake, VA
Jamar is interested in attending the Learning Forward Academy because it offers a unique opportunity to deepen his understanding of professional learning and its direct impact on student achievement. As he nears the completion of his dissertation on implementing professional learning frameworks, he is eager to learn from experts and peers who share a commitment to educational excellence. Jamar wants to gain practical insights and strategies to support teachers and staff’s continuous growth, fostering a culture of collaboration, reflection, and improvement. Additionally, he looks forward to expanding his leadership skills to better guide my school community in embracing evidence-based practices for long-term success.
Learning Forward Mississippi
Dale Hair Affiliate Development Grant
Bradley Brumfield * Executive Director
Learning Forward Mississippi will use the Dale Hair Affiliate Grant to train board members in facilitating the Pathway to Educational Excellence and Equity: Simulation Game, an interactive learning tool aligned with Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning. This initiative will build board capacity, support district accreditation efforts, and enhance professional learning statewide. The project includes board training, district pilot sessions, and a Fall Conference rollout, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact across Mississippi’s education system.
