July 3, 2025

Dear Educator,

Change efforts are often developed outside the educational ecosystem and implemented from the top down. When this change is done to people instead of with them, it rarely aligns with the community's aspirations or assets.

We know there is an urgent need to redesign our educational ecosystems, but we can not do this without centering learners and collaborating together as educators, community leaders, and business partners to ensure we are designing schools that meet the demands of the rapidly evolving world we live in.

Codesigning the future of education is critical to meet the needs of learners today and prepare them to thrive as learners, workers, and citizens tomorrow. This week's Bright Spots takes a look at a session Devin and I facilitated at ISTELive 25 related to the future of education ecosystem design.

With Gratitude,

Creating the Conditions for Scalable, Sustainable Change

This week, Devin and I facilitated a session at ISTELive 25 called System-Level R&D: Creating the Conditions for Scalable, Sustainable Change. We shared our theory of action and inspiring examples of what is possible at scale.

Implementing this R&D framework in public school systems allows communities to navigate complex change with intentionality and shared ownership. It also allows districts and schools to prototype and refine innovations in real-world contexts, ensuring they are responsive to local needs and grounded in learner experience.

By iteratively testing ideas, measuring impact, and scaling what works, this approach mitigates risk by testing ideas before going to scale, fosters deeper engagement from stakeholders, and aligns strategic goals with authentic practices. Ultimately, embedded, system-level R&D creates the conditions for sustainable change where learners are centered by design.

I’d love to hear your feedback on the framework shown above. What resonates, what is missing, what examples do you have from your own experience as part of change efforts? Share your thoughts by replying directly to this email :)

ICYMI: Last week, we released  "A Learner-Centered Ecosystem," a deep dive into the four elements needed to bring a learner-centered approach to life in your learning community. Included in this publication are concrete examples from schools and districts that are implementing learner-centered practices that have profound impacts on learners and learning. Get your copy here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 What is the Purpose of School? A Call for Whole-Learner Outcomes. "This is why learner-centered transformation cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it must be co-designed and built from the ground up by and for the community it serves." Learn more about whole-learner outcomes.

🛠️ Community Asset Mapping Tool: "The Community Asset Map is a tool that helps educators identify and leverage local resources, skills, and networks to enhance their teaching practice. By mapping out community assets – from businesses to cultural organizations – educators can create more meaningful learning experiences that connect classroom content with the real world." Download this free tool.

👩‍💻 Level Up Your Learner-Centered Practice This Summer. "Our asynchronous online courses offer educators the opportunity to dive deep into learner-centered pedagogical practices and activities—on their own timeline, at their own pace." Start learning today.