The Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL), a KickUp partner, just released groundbreaking research that makes a compelling case for changing that. Their new publication, Reprioritizing Relationships: Using Teacher Professional Learning to Strengthen Classroom Connections, synthesizes what decades of research tells us about the power of strong teacher-student relationships—and how professional learning can help teachers build them.

The Evidence is Clear

The research shows that positive teacher-student relationships are linked to better student outcomes across the board: higher academic achievement, increased motivation and engagement, improved attendance, better behavior, and enhanced mental health. These relationships also matter for teachers, supporting their job satisfaction, emotional resilience, instructional quality, and retention.

But here's what makes this publication especially valuable for PL leaders: experimental studies prove that professional learning focused on relationships actually works. When teachers receive training on relationship-building strategies, both teachers and students report stronger connections—and students show improved outcomes.

Two Pathways to Stronger Relationships

RPPL identifies two complementary approaches that professional learning can support:

Building individual relationships: Teachers can learn concrete practices to connect with students one-on-one, like using reflection protocols to identify students who need extra support, finding common ground with students, and developing empathic mindsets about student behavior.

Fostering positive classroom climates: PL can help teachers create warm, demanding environments where all students feel they belong—through approaches like restorative practices, culturally responsive teaching, and social-emotional learning integration.

Making It Work in Your District

The beauty of this research is that it doesn't require abandoning your current PL priorities. Instead, it shows how relationship-focused strategies can be woven into existing work around high-quality instructional materials, curriculum implementation, and other key initiatives.

In a time when districts are struggling with teacher retention and students are experiencing heightened mental health challenges, investing in professional learning that strengthens relationships isn't just nice to have—it's essential.

Ready to dive deeper? Download the full RPPL report to explore the evidence-based strategies, example practices, and research-backed interventions that can help your teachers build stronger connections with every student.

Want to chat about a system that can support relationship-focused PL strategies? Let's chat.

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