Professional Development

In the ever-changing world and field of environmental education, we understand how valuable continuing education is to our members. This is why PAEE is excited and proud to announce our newly formed Professional Development Committee. This committee is devoted to bringing PAEE members meaningful, engaging and relevant monthly professional development sessions at no cost to PAEE members. Topics will vary by month and will be aligned to the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence for Professional Development of Environmental Educators.

The PAEE Professional Development Annual Themes are: Best Practices in Teaching, Assessment and Evaluation, Promoting Inclusivity, Research in an Evolving EE Field, and Best Business Practices. They are an adaptation of the NAAEE professional development framework themes for environmental educators and were chosen to collectively represent significant realms of environmental education.

We hope this Committee’s work helps you to expand your knowledge, make connections and reflect and assess your practices. Check this page for updates as information on speakers and registration becomes available.

Upcoming Opportunities

Back to School with PAEE: STEELS Support and Resources for PA Educators

Thursday, September 24, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST

Get ready for back to school with PAEE! Join our PD Director, Amanda Jeane, for a free, interactive webinar designed to help PA educators feel confident heading into the school year with the PA STEELS standards. Whether you’re a classroom teacher or a nonformal educator, we’ll break down what STEELS are, why it matters for environmental education, and how PAEE’s resources and programs can support your work all year long. Stick around for a live Q&A — and a chance to win a free PAEE membership or PAEE T-shirt! Registration is required.

Promoting Discussion: Discussion in Action (The Lawrence Hall of Science)

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00 PM EST

Not a member of their professional learning platform? Registration for this workshop is on them! Use the code DISCO at checkout to register for free!

Discussion is a tremendously powerful tool for students to engage in learning. From formulating one’s own ideas into words to listening to others’ ideas, discussion supports learners to grow and strengthen their conceptual knowledge, to connect back to their own and their peers’ lived experience, to share cultural knowledge and expertise, and ultimately, to make better sense of the world. It is often in discussion where student ideas and experiences can be centered, not just the teacher’s. Discussion also supports educators to better understand what learners are thinking and to make instructional decisions based on student experiences.

In this session, participants are invited to:

Reflect on past experiences leading or participating in discussion, and what made them feel successful or not successful.
Grow their understanding of the role discussion plays in the learning process, specifically in scientific meaning-making.
Experience a wide variety of discussion routines and strategies, and discuss their potential impact on student learning.

This session is adapted from the BEETLES session, Promoting Discussion. Participation in this session is encouraged (though not required) as a prerequisite for the future session, Promoting Discussion: Applying Strategies and Tools.