Louisiana Offers Free Virtual Instruction Training to Support Teachers and Principals

The Louisiana Department of Education announced a new option for teachers and principals to receive free online training that will help strengthen their ability to provide effective virtual instruction. The training is available to educators starting this month. 

The three-part online training series will help teachers and principals understand high-quality virtual instruction and give them tools, templates, and resources for strengthening their lessons and engaging students. Leaders will also receive resources to help them coach teachers and provide strong feedback to improve. The sessions are optional. Educators can decide when to take each of the three 90-minute sessions based on their schedule, with after-school, evening and weekend opportunities available for teachers.

"Virtual learning has improved leaps and bounds compared to March when school buildings were closed, but it's vital we continue to support our educators as they learn this new method of instruction," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. "I'm grateful for partners who invest in our educators so they can be at their best for children as we grow and learn together." 

The virtual training series is being provided by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a nonprofit that has worked with Louisiana educators for more than two decades to strengthen instructional practices and currently supports educators in about 300 schools across the state. NIET has been training thousands of teachers and leaders on how to translate effective instructional strategies into the virtual environment.

"Louisiana teachers have been quickly adapting to virtual and hybrid environments, and state leaders know they need ongoing support to build confidence and understanding for teaching online. This statewide initiative reinforces that Louisiana is a national leader in prioritizing educators' professional learning and investing in their development," said NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen. "Educators' demand for this kind of accessible training and support is high, and the state's response to quickly develop and provide high-quality support to all educators will strengthen virtual teaching and learning."

Training sessions are taught live and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions are spread out over the fall and spring semesters. Registration is now open, but seats are limited for each district or school system. Teachers should connect with their immediate supervisor to see if seats are available to attend. More details and registration information are available at in NIET's Virtual Instruction Training for Louisiana Teachers and Leaders web section.