On June 11, 2025, the Educator Preparation Laboratory (EdPrepLab) hosted its annual Spring Convening, bringing together a dynamic community of educators, scholars, and program leaders to explore how fostering safety, connection, and belonging can transform teacher preparation and support student success.
Held virtually, the event, “Preparing Educators to Foster Belonging, Connection, and Growth,” centered on the release of the newest report from the Learning Policy Institute and EdPrepLab, Design Principles for Teacher Education: Enacting the Science of Learning and Development. The report underscores the importance of preparing educators to build positive developmental relationships—an approach that supports not only students, but also teachers and the systems that guide them.
“This work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: educators thrive when they are prepared in environments that mirror the ones we hope they’ll create for their students,” said Jessica Blum-DeStefano, a faculty member at Bank Street Graduate School of Education and the Director of Practice and Professional Learning at EdPrepLab. “Belonging, connection, and care aren’t add-ons—they’re foundational to strong preparation and effective teaching.”
The convening opened with a public session featuring a keynote address by Dr. Rita Kohli, Professor at the University of California, Riverside. A nationally recognized expert in teacher education and the experiences of teachers of color, Kohli spoke to the ways educator preparation programs must evolve to meet the diverse needs of today’s schools and communities. Participants then engaged in small-group discussions, reflecting on how SoLD-aligned strategies can shape their own professional practices.
Following the public session, EdPrepLab members reconvened for an in-depth, members-only discussion focused on how preparation programs are putting the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) principles into action. The session featured voices from across the EdPrepLab network, including alumni of affiliated institutions and program leaders working to build robust professional communities of practice.
Speakers included Dr. Kathryn Chval, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Illinois Chicago; Dr. Sumi Hagiwara, Associate Dean of the College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University; and Dr. Desiree Pointer Mace, an Education Chair and the incoming Interim Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at Alverno College. Together, they shared insights into how their institutions are fostering educator growth through collaboration, support, and a deep commitment to belonging.
Throughout the event, a central theme resonated: that meaningful learning begins with relationships. As EdPrepLab continues to lead the field in advancing equitable, evidence-based educator preparation, the 2025 Spring Convening served as both a celebration of progress and a call to deepen the work ahead.