Wyoming Educators Invited to Shape New Statewide Professional Development Platform

The Wyoming Department of Education has announced the creation of a new professional development platform aimed at connecting educators and sharing instructional expertise across the state, Casper Star-Tribune reports.

Known as the Innovator Network, the initiative invites Wyoming teachers to contribute to and benefit from a growing collection of teaching resources and training modules.

Set to launch on August 5 at the conclusion of the state’s teacher conference, the platform will be hosted on Canvas and will include both asynchronous and live professional development opportunities. Content will be created by Wyoming educators for their peers, with a focus on sharing best practices, lesson plans, instructional strategies, and innovative teaching approaches.

“There are pockets of excellence all over the state of Wyoming,” said Superintendent Megan Degenfelder. “This platform is about bringing those educators together, recognizing their innovation, and rethinking how we prepare students for the future.”

The Innovator Network builds on previous initiatives championed by Degenfelder that emphasize active learning and engagement beyond traditional classroom settings. The goal is to foster personalized professional development for teachers in the same way that many schools aim to personalize instruction for students.

To begin shaping the platform, the Department of Education is asking teachers to complete a questionnaire detailing their areas of expertise, content interests, grade levels taught, and their willingness to contribute content. This information will guide the platform’s initial development.

Nathan Tedjeske, who leads the department’s innovations team, emphasized that the content will evolve based on educator input and participation.

“The network is designed to house best practices and the amazing things that are happening in Wyoming classrooms every day,” he said.

Teachers who contribute courses will be compensated: $100 for asynchronous modules and $250 for live sessions. While the department acknowledges there may be gaps in content during the early stages, it intends to grow the platform organically, adding more material as participation increases.

“We know we can’t cover everything right away,” said Tedjeske. “But by focusing on what teachers are already doing well, we hope to build something meaningful and useful for educators across Wyoming.”