Professional Learning Networks

Elementary Professional Learning Network and Community Webinar Series:

This four-session professional learning series focuses on Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom as participants read, reflect on, and discuss a new, foundational text from the Inquiry-Based Practice in Social Studies Education series. Authored by S. G. Grant, Kathy Swan, and John Lee, the series provides a strong conceptual framework for shaping classroom experiences through inquiry-based teaching and learning. Across four sessions, educators will explore readings from the newest book in this series: The Inquiry Teacher:  Tools for the Elementary Social Studies Classroom   how inquiry can become an everyday practice in elementary classrooms, examine practical applications of the book’s ideas, and engage in collaborative discussion to support implementation. This series is ideal for elementary educators seeking to deepen their understanding of inquiry-based instruction and strengthen classroom practice. 

Led by Keith Lyons, literacy consultant and Technical Assistant Coach Coordinator with the Wilderness Education Project and an adjunct instructor at Midway University, with more than 20 years of leadership experience in literacy development at the University of Kentucky. He is a former president of the Kentucky Reading Association and is currently pursuing advanced graduate studies in early childhood literacy, family engagement, and American history. 

Secondary Professional Learning Network and Community Webinar Series:

This online professional learning experience equips educators with the skills and confidence to implement inquiry-based learning across disciplines, with an initial focus on Social Studies to meet grant priorities. Designed to support flexible participation, the course provides a high-quality online option that expands access and bridges scheduling and participation gaps.

The course blends monthly live online sessions with guided asynchronous learning, including readings, discussion, and classroom application. Participants engage in one hour of live professional development each month, followed by two hours of independent work that includes weekly readings, online discussion, and the creation or revision of an inquiry-based lesson for classroom implementation.

Grounded in the C3 Framework, course content explores the language and components of inquiry; the role of compelling and supporting questions; strategies for student questioning; and how to design inquiry that is doable, accessible, vibrant, and coherent. Educators will examine common challenges in inquiry instruction, learn how to select and use sources effectively, and explore how deliberation, collaboration, and production support meaningful student inquiry. By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to design, implement, and evaluate inquiry-based lessons that engage all learners.

Led by Kay Hedrick,  an educator and educational design leader with 20 years of experience empowering teachers and students through literacy, communication, and inquiry-driven learning. She currently serves in leadership and coaching roles on multiple USDOE-funded grants with the Wilderness Education Project and actively advocates for social studies and civics education at the state and national levels.