Power Learning Series – Bite-Sized Learning for Busy HR Professional

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Power Learning Series, launching in June 2025, is a new way to grow your skills without the time commitment of a full course. 

These short, high-impact virtual courses are designed specifically for public sector HR professionals like you. Spread across 2–3 weeks and totaling just 3–4 hours, each Power Learning Series offers:

✅ Focused, relevant topics 
✅ Flexible virtual sessions 
✅ Real-world application for the public sector 
✅ Expert PSHRA instructors 

This series is interactive, incorporates case studies, discussions, and practical applications.

Whether you need a refresher or want to explore a new topic, these sessions are the perfect fit for your busy schedule. 

Topics Include:

  •  Compensation Essentials - Learners will explore the foundational components of public sector compensation:  compensation elements and strategy, labor market assessment, and internal equity. Appropriate and fair compensation directly impacts employee attraction, retention, motivation, and productivity. A well-structured compensation system that aligns with the organization’s goals helps maintain fiscal responsibility and promotes fair and equitable pay. The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions.  Join our interest list to be notified when our next offering is available.
  • Smart Compensation:  Effectively Recognizing and Rewarding Employee Contributions - Learners will explore the intermediate principles underlying sound performance and rewards management. It will then identify alternative strategies and programs and evaluate their effectiveness in different environments. The course will be delivered over two-weeks with two one-hour sessions per week. 
  • Fair & Effective Workplace Investigations – Learners will explore the full investigation process from intake to reporting, with a focus on balancing legal, ethical, and organizational considerations. Participants will gain tools to plan, conduct, and document investigations with fairness, consistency, and clarity. The content will be delivered through a realistic and engaging case study.  The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions. Join our interest list to be notified when our next offering is available.
  •  HR Analytics for the Public Sector – Learners will be equipped with fundamental skills in strategic HR analytics and data storytelling. The first session introduces key concepts such as metrics, analytics, and ROI and guides learners in identifying the “right question” to explore through data. The second session focuses on formulating a hypothesis, understanding correlation vs. causation, and structuring an HR analytics project using real-world examples. The final session emphasizes communicating analytical findings effectively through storytelling, visualizations, and ROI presentations to influence decision-makers and drive strategic change. Together, these sessions equip learners to use data to solve real HR problems and advocate for impactful interventions. The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions.
  • Gen Clash or Gen Connect? How to Build a Unified Workforce – From Traditionalists to Gen Z, learners will gain practical insights and strategies to attract talent from a complex workforce, foster teamwork, mutual respect, and collective success in your public sector organization. Our Power Series Session will explore trends and discuss alternative plans for Attracting, Leading and Engaging a Multi-Generational Workforce. This learning event will include contemporary images illustrating the various attributes of the various generations, workforce generational trends, bias recognition and management, active listening, empathic communications, desires for each generation, and best-practice solutions for attracting, engaging, rewarding, and retaining top, multi-generational talent. This session will include several opportunities for general discussions in this virtual lecture room and in breakout sessions to share ideas about talent attraction, retention, engagement, succession planning, performance management and development. The course will be delivered over 2.5 week with one-hour weekly online sessions.
  • Policy and Practices:  Building Equitable and Engaging Work Policies – Learners will be provided practical strategies and tools for managing remote, hybrid, and flexible work arrangements within the framework of public service. They will explore policy development, performance management, legal considerations (ADA, FMLA, FLSA), employee engagement, and strategies for equitable implementation across roles and departments. The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions.
  • Solving Employee Relations Issues Before They Move to Litigation – Learners will explore the best ways to implement a coaching for success program and to prepare all levels of your organization leadership for proactive resolution of all levels of employee relations issues before they exacerbate and begun the foundation for employee vs. employer litigation. The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions.
  • Values Based Decision Making – Learners will explore how to clearly articulate a set of shared values that can guide HR leaders through ambiguity, conflict, and tough choices. Participants will engage with real-world scenarios to practice clarifying and using values to navigate complex situations while reinforcing trust and credibility across the organization. The course will be delivered over three-week with one-hour weekly online sessions.

Course Price:  Member -$399; Non-Member -$499

Additional details:

  • After registering, you will receive a confirmation email advising you how to login.
  • The course will open for review one day before the start date. 
  • Course registration fees must be paid in full to access it or your enrollment will be cancelled. 

Please be sure to review the PSHRA's Professional Development Course Cancellation Policy prior to enrollment.

PSHRA Course Interest List:  Would you like to register for a future course?  Please add your name to our PSHRA Course Interest List and we will notify you when courses are available. 

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better® 

Upcoming Courses

  • 2025 Compensation Essentials - Starting 9/5/2025
    Includes Credits

    This class will start on September 5, 2025 and end on September 19, 2025

    Welcome!

    Thank you for your Power Learning Series registration.  We are so excited you have looked to PSHRA® to help you grow in your career.

    The Power Learning Series offers you a new way to grow your skills without the time commitment of a full course. 

    In this course learners will explore the foundational components of public sector compensation:  compensation elements and strategy, labor market assessment, and internal equity. Appropriate and fair compensation directly impacts employee attraction, retention, motivation, and productivity. A well-structured compensation system that aligns with the organization’s goals helps maintain fiscal responsibility and promotes fair and equitable pay.

    The course will be delivered over 3 weeks with one-hour weekly online meetings.

    Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-Coming Soon!

    Don’t hesitate to contact us - PSHRA – Debbie Tankersely-Snook, Associate Director, Member Programs, Membership - meetings@pshra.org.


    Making public sector work better®.


    Course Syllabus

    Course Description

    Learners will explore the foundational components of public sector compensation:  compensation elements and strategy, labor market assessment, and internal equity. Appropriate and fair compensation directly impacts employee attraction, retention, motivation, and productivity. A well-structured compensation system that aligns with the organization’s goals helps maintain fiscal responsibility and promotes fair and equitable pay.

    Learning Objectives

    By the end of the course, students will be able to:

    • explain key differences between public and private sector compensation systems
    • understand basic public sector pay and classification structures
    • apply foundational compensation principles

    Student Expectations:

    • Live attendance and full engagement at all 3 Zoom sessions.
    • Respond to each of the instructor’s discussion posts within 3 days.
    • Complete weekly readings and assignments.
    • Contact instructor if questions arise, jlittle1104@gmail.com.

    Instructor Expectations:

    • Provide weekly assignments and regular discussion posts for student engagement and learning.
    • Prepare for and present course content for live Zoom sessions.
    • Respond to any student email inquiries within 3 days.

    Week One: Foundations of Public Sector Compensation

    • Total compensation
    • Public sector compensation strategy
    • Private and public sector differences

    Week Two: Labor Market Assessment

    • Labor markets
    • Salary data sources
    • Benchmarking jobs
    • Compensation structure
    • External equity

    Week Three: Internal Equity and Fair Compensation

    • Internal equity
    • Pay increases
    • Compensation influences

    Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

    All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

    Meetings:

    • Course Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will receive your Individual Zoom Link before the course starts.

    Course Design:

    The course will be delivered over three weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  

    Time Commitment:

    Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

    Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

    • Start Date: 9/5/2025
    • Completion Date: 9/19/2025
    • Meeting 1:  9/5/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
    • Meeting 2:  9/12/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
    • Meeting 3:  9/19/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

    Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

    Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

    Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

    Making public sector work better®.

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    Jacqueline P. Little, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, IPMA-SCP

    Chief HR Officer

    Island Institute

    Ms. Little is a proud Maine native who is passionate about HR and the positive impact HR can have on an organization.  She earned a Master's degree in Human Resource Leadership, has over two decades of public sector HR experience and holds the SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PSHRA-SCP and GPHR certifications. Jackie shares her experience, perspective and insight at various local, national and international conferences.  In her spare time, she can be found baking cheesecakes, exploring the Maine coast or traveling with her family.


  • 2025 Fair & Effective Workplace Investigations - Starting 9/8/2025
    Includes Credits

    This class will start on September 8, 2025 and end on September 22, 2025

    Welcome!

    Thank you for your Power Learning Series registration.  We are so excited you have looked to PSHRA® to help you grow in your career.

    The Power Learning Series offers you a new way to grow your skills without the time commitment of a full course. 

    In this course, learners will explore the full investigation process from intake to reporting, with a focus on balancing legal, ethical, and organizational considerations. Participants will gain tools to plan, conduct, and document investigations with fairness, consistency, and clarity. The content will be delivered through a realistic and engaging case study.

    Learners will gain the skills to conduct fair and effective workplace investigations. The course will be delivered over three-weeks with one-hour weekly online meetings.

    Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-Coming Soon!

    Don’t hesitate to contact us - PSHRA – Debbie Tankersely-Snook, Associate Director, Member Programs, Membership - meetings@pshra.org.


    Making public sector work better®.


    Course Syllabus


    Learners will explore the full investigation process from intake to reporting, with a focus on balancing legal, ethical, and organizational considerations. Participants will gain tools to plan, conduct, and document investigations with fairness, consistency, and clarity. The content will be delivered through a realistic and engaging case study.

    Overview

    This comprehensive learning program is designed for Human Resource (HR) professionals in the United States public sector. It prepares learners for the complexities and challenges of conducting fair and effective workplace investigations.

    Learning Objectives

    1. Ensure Legal Compliance: Understand the legal frameworks and compliance requirements necessary for conducting workplace investigations.
    2. Support the Complainant and Prevent Retaliation: Master communication techniques that prioritize confidentiality and complainant protections.
    3. Enhance Investigative Skills: Learn advanced investigative techniques to conduct thorough and effective investigations.
    4. Apply Skills Practically: Engage in scenario-based activities that simulate real-life challenges, enhancing practical application skills. 

    Program Components

    Workshop 1

    • Introduction to Workplace Investigations: Overview of legal and ethical considerations specific to public sector contexts.
    • Supporting the Complainant, Preventing Retaliation: Processes and techniques.

    Workshop 2

    • Planning an Investigation: Steps for a thorough, timely and impartial investigation.
    • Conducting Interviews: Developing effective interview questions and documentation.

    Workshop 3

    • Gathering and Analyzing Evidence: Managing your own bias, selecting and collecting evidence from various sources.
    • Reporting and Concluding an Investigation: Deciding on the outcomes and recommendations, and communicating the results. 

    The course will be delivered over three-weeks with 3 one-hour weekly online meetings.

    Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

    All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

    Meetings:

    • Course Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will receive your Individual Zoom Link before the course starts.

    Course Design:

    The course will be delivered over three-weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and the URL for your course meetings

    Time Commitment:

    Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

    Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

    • Start Date: 9/8/2025
    • Completion Date: 9/22/2025
    • Meeting 1:  9/8/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
    • Meeting 2:  9/15/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
    • Meeting 3:  9/22/2025 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

    Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

    Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

    Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

    Making public sector work better®.

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    Beatriz Coningham, Ed.D.

    Dr. Coningham is a global consultant in organizational leadership, learning, change, and human resource management. She is also part of the adjunct faculty of the George Washington University, in Washington DC, where she lives. Her experience includes public sector, non-profit and for profit organizations in the United States and abroad. As part of her career in leadership roles in human resources she has personally conducted multiple workplace investigations and trained human resources teams on the investigation process.