Still Learning focuses on strengthening social-emotional capacity among educators to help individuals, teams, and organizations do more good. But it's more than that—it's about how to live a better, richer life and make a difference in the lives of our colleagues and our children. Allison understands the value of reflection, and she provides prompts throughout the book for readers to look back, look at, and look ahead to what's possible in our collective work. She also recognizes the impact of praxis, or real-life application, in professional learning and embeds tools within and beyond the book to guide meaningful action. I am a better person for having read this book, and I think you will be, too.
—Dr. Jim Knight, senior partner, Instructional Coaching Group and author of The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching, The Impact Cycle, and Better Conversations
Allison Rodman understands teachers and educational organizations deeply. She challenges us to remember to take time to focus not only on our students' development, but on our own development as well. In Still Learning, Rodman wonderfully supports educators with research and reflective exercises that support us in that growth. Full of resources and information, this book will be a companion for so many as we challenge ourselves to stretch at our edges.
—Jennifer Abrams, author of Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work
For many years, my mantra has been "There is no mountaintop to teaching," so I was anxious to explore what Allison Rodman offered educators in Still Learning. I found it packed with challenging questions, supporting research, strategies, suggestions, and insights to support educators individually and collectively. Schools can only focus on the whole child if they focus on the whole educator. Allison provides pathways to that purpose
—Steve Barkley, chief learning officer, PLS3rdLearning and author of Instructional Coaching with the End in Mind
In a field so often focused on nurturing others, Still Learning: Strengthening Professional and Organizational Capacity invites educators to prioritize themselves. This transformative work, a compass for personal and professional growth, boldly addresses a gap in education literature. Blending rich insights with actionable strategies, it pioneers a journey of self-discovery, focusing on social-emotional capacity. As the boundaries between personal and professional blur, this book is a lifeline. Its holistic approach, a response to escalating demands, nurtures educators' well-being. Through poignant reflections and research-based tools, it cultivates a resilient, empowered community of learners, essential for shaping the long game. Engage with this book—immerse, savor, and emerge stronger. For educators who commit their hearts and minds, this is the guide they deserve.
—Jill Thompson, partner, Education Elements
In Still Learning, Rodman masterfully provides opportunities and tools for educators to breathe life into the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model through cultivating individual and organizational capacity. She brings to life research through practitioner perspectives to lead readers toward reflection and action in the interest of student success.
—Dr. Hannah Gbenro, chief academic officer, Washington State
Allison Rodman's Still Learning takes an in-depth, thoughtful, and essential look at how educators must focus on their own learning, well-being, and emotional investment in education. Too often in education, we apply effective learning strategies for our students but ignore educators. We assume lifelong learning is a mindset to be instilled in our classrooms but not across staff or board rooms. This book dispels that myth and applies the same learning focus to adults—not just teachers, but anyone involved in the teaching and learning process, including board members, district and school leaders, counselors, support staff members, parents, and caregivers. Still Learning is essential reading for educators in all these groups and will help you reframe your own learning and growth.
Educators often find it difficult to make time to reflect on their own learning. We are fundamentally servant-leaders. Yet, as Rodman points out, this book provides time and space to engage in your own learning. Take the time to "[i]ndulge, preserve, recover. Take all the time you need to soak in its pages, process, and grow. We need you for the long game."
—Sean Slade, speaker and head of BTS Spark North America and author of Questioning Education and School Climate Change
Cultivating effective teams is complex work. With Still Learning, Rodman provides a thoughtful and comprehensive guide. She synthesizes a wide variety of expert thinking on adult learning needs, organizing it around the core issues that are essential for creating effective learning environments for both students and educators. This book is packed with resources and includes QR access to helpful materials. Still Learning is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to create and sustain effective teams.
—Stefani Arzonetti Hite, founder of Tigris Solutions and author of Leading Collective Effective Efficacy and Intentional and Targeted Teaching
WOW! Allison Rodman has written an incredible book based on research from the education field and beyond. Each chapter includes a high-level theory of change coupled with a practical and action-oriented how-to guide. She has a unique talent for making the abstract and complex feel concrete and accessible. Multiple times while reviewing this book, I thought of other leaders and how much they absolutely needed this resource. That, to me, is the measure of a must-read.
—Dr. PJ Caposey, Illinois Superintendent of the Year and National Superintendent of the Year finalist
Still Learning is a beacon that illuminates a crucial yet overlooked aspect of education: support for adult social-emotional learning (SEL). Too often, we ask educators to focus on fostering these essential skills without providing a practical framework grounded in recognizing the adults' need to develop and deepen their competency. Allison Rodman's skillful integration of SEL competencies and adult learning theory provides an exemplary framework for building and sustaining educators' professional growth. Still Learning is guaranteed to be a go-to guide for administrators, instructional coaches, and professional learning facilitators.
—Dr. Krista Leh, chief education officer, Resonance Educational Consulting
Still Learning is the book I wished I had written—and the book I needed to read! Allison Rodman has created an amazing and incredibly helpful resource to support educators' social and emotional learning needs. Still Learning incorporates so many elements of important and timeless frameworks—from SEL competencies to CliftonStrengths and chronotypes. Reading Allison's work has really helped me see where my growth and development as a human being sit in relation to my learning as an educator. Thank you, Allison, for finally connecting the dots and helping me see that, as an educator, learning about myself is as important as learning about my content.
—Dr. Isabel Sawyer, senior vice president, The Collaborative Classroom and author of Professional Learning Redefined
When choosing professional books to read, one can always count on the quality and value that Allison Rodman delivers. Still Learning is no exception. She gets to the heart of the research, shows application across multiple avenues, and shares the voices of others to amplify our profession. Get ready to grow and explore who you are as a professional so that you serve at the highest level. Lucky us!
—LaVonna Roth, keynote speaker, author, and consultant, Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.®, Inc.
