Professional Development This Summer: What Teachers and Principals Say They Need Copy URL The last 15 months of COVID-19 disruption has put the professional skills of even veteran educators to the test. Countless teachers who haven’t passed through the doors of their school buildings since March 2020 report being more exhausted than ever. Not seeing students has, in many instances, exposed teachers to these children’s vulnerabilities. And, despite concern of the pandemic’s adverse impact on students’ academic achievement, many educators report being far more concerned with its effects on children’s mental health. That’s where professional development comes in.