The PD Cafe: Wellness and Growth
A PD activity where staff choose a quick reset to an ongoing habit each week.
15-20 min
The PD Cafe: Equity and Inclusion
A PD exercise to build culturally responsive teaching skills.
Jen Coenen
A self-paced professional development activity built around culturally responsive teaching, where staff choose their own commitment level from a menu: a quick appetizer, a deeper entrée, or an ongoing dessert habit.
Why try it
Support meaningful equity learning in a way that feels flexible and approachable. A menu of learning options lets staff choose activities that fit their schedule, interests, and professional goals, whether that's watching a short video, exploring an article, or collaborating with a colleague. Giving staff choice encourages steady growth while helping build confidence and meaningful learning over time.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Print the menu and reflection cards
Print a Learning Menu, a Reflections & Refills card, a Learning Bites card, and a Thoughts & Takeaways card for each staff member.
2
Share the Equity and Inclusion menu
Introduce the three courses: Appetizers (10-20 minutes), Entrées (1-2 hours), and Dessert (ongoing), each with options focused on culturally responsive teaching.
3
Let staff select their course
Give staff time to choose one item from each section, or a single item if time is tight, and jot their picks on the Learning Menu.
4
Follow through and reflect
Set a window for staff to complete what they chose, then have them capture their thinking on one of the reflection cards.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Grade-level cohorts
Have grade-level teams work through the entrée options together so they can compare notes on the same content area.
New staff onboarding
Give new hires a lighter version of the menu during their first semester to introduce equity practices without overwhelming them.
Student voice add-on
Pair the "classroom audit" appetizer with a short student survey to check whether staff perceptions match student experience.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Frame it as ongoing, not one-time
Position the cafe as one stop along an ongoing learning journey. Encouraging continued reflection and exploration helps turn one activity into lasting growth.
Leader Tip #2
Make room for real conversation
Set aside time at a staff meeting for people to talk through what they tried, especially the entrée-level activities that involve a colleague or coach.
Leader Tip #3
Watch who's picking what
If staff are mostly choosing the quicker options, consider adding a shared entrée-level activity for everyone to explore together. It creates an opportunity for deeper learning while still keeping choice at the heart of the experience.I
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Jen Coenen
Instructional Coach
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