May 21, 2026

Dear Educator,

When I was a classroom teacher, I assumed most people taught the way I did. Then I became a literacy coach and quickly realized the vast differences in style, approach, and impact across classrooms.

Later, as a new teacher mentor working across eight schools, I learned even more. I saw incredible opportunities to learn from each school — the ways they approached learning, built community, and created meaningful experiences for young people.

Today, that perspective is magnified nationally as I see the incredible variety of learning environments and approaches that exist across the country.

This week, instead of visiting classrooms, we brought district leaders together for industry visits — and it was powerful. More on that experience in this week's Bright Spot!

With Gratitude,

P.S. I just published an end-of-year blog reflecting on the 25-26 academic year and what I see as one of the most important decisions for learning communities to make in the years ahead. Check it out here and let me know what you think!

Learning From Industry is Essential Work

This week, our North San Diego County Superintendents Network visited Viasat, the global communications and satellite company headquartered in Carlsbad, right in the backyard of many of our districts. We explored the campus and saw firsthand how the open, collaborative environment was intentionally designed to support innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Many of the superintendents deeply connected to the “why” behind Portraits of a Learner and felt compelled to think differently about the conditions we create for both staff and students to collaborate, innovate, and thrive.

There is something profoundly impactful about getting outside of our own systems to see how other organizations operate and what they value. Listening to leaders in industry talk candidly about the rapidly changing world of work sparked important reflection around what we are truly preparing young people for.

Our guide emphasized that their industry has to continuously evolve to stay ahead. If companies keep innovating while schools remain stagnant, the gap between what learners need and what schools are preparing them to do will only continue to grow.

The visit was a reminder that learning from industry, seeing something different, and staying curious about the future isn’t extra work — it is essential work.

How does your school or district stay connected to the way the world of work is evolving? Learner-Centered Collaborative has had the privilege of leading teams of educators from across the country on industry visits at places like Apple, Siemens, and Bobcat (just to name a few). If you think your team would value connecting their work with how industry is operating in today's rapidly changing landscape, let's connect!

Learner-Centered Collaborative is a supporting partner for the Ignite 2026 Summit in San Jose, CA. This event is an opportunity for learner-centered educators to learn with and from one another and co-design future-focused solutions that elevate student voice and agency and bring relevance to student learning. Learn more about the summit here and let us know if you plan on attending!

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Now is the Time for Systemic Coherence: Reflections on the 25-26 Academic Year. "When decisions are anchored in what we know to be true about learners—and when systems are intentionally designed instead of inherited—we move closer to creating learning experiences that are worthy of our young people." Read Katie's reflection.

🤝 Developing Community Partnerships for Internships, Mentorships, and Community Projects. "Through these community-connected experiences, learners gain valuable work or real-world experience, confidence, and a professional network, enhancing their access to employment and secondary education opportunities." Learn how to develop partnerships here.

🎓 Online Course: Authentic Learning Deep Dive. "Learn how to anchor lessons in real-world issues, build cross-curricular connections, and empower learners to collaborate with peers and present to authentic audiences." Start learning today.