A wise person once said that a diploma is simply a license to learn. That certainly applies to teachers with a newly minted degree. Just as doctors, attorneys, accountants, managers and other professionals have to constantly be aware of new studies, new techniques and new ideas in their respective fields, you too, as an educator, have the responsibility to remain current in your profession. There are many opportunities in your school district to participate in professional development in a variety of areas. You may also live near a university or college where you can take courses towards a higher degree or to fulfill your continuing education requirements. Enrolling and attending these workshops and courses are all part of increasing your knowledge and skills. As a professional educator, you also need to keep up with current events in your field. Having a basic background in educational research and statistics can be very helpful in evaluating the quality of information you may read and hear about. As a minimum, you need to investigate the source of the information and the credentials of the researcher or writer. Professional journals with peer-reviewed articles are a great source of rigorous research. This section will introduce you to several hot topics being researched, discussed and evaluated in education today. A summary of the topic will be presented to give you an overview of the main idea and suggestions about how you may be affected. Then resources for further investigation and ideas for improving your professional development can help you become a qualified leader in education.