December 5, 2024

Dear Educator,

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the Forney ISD Opportunity Central in Dallas. It was one of the most impressive reimaginations of the traditional high school (in both space and experience) I have seen.

Moving away from a one-size-fits-all high school, Opportunity Central provides a convening space to gather, learn, eat, and shop for learners from ages 3 to 103. This beautiful three-story building is a multipurpose space that functions as a mall, coworking space, and community hub while creating authentic real-world career and college experiences and credentials.

In 15 minutes, I talked with kids grabbing lunch at a restaurant where their peers were working, saw students in scrubs transitioning from their nursing classes, saw retirees walking to get exercise and connect, saw a business meeting for a community member opening up a talent center, and I heard a sales pitch from a student with a pop-up store.

There are so many bright spots to highlight, but I want to talk about my experience at Blooms Flower Shop. More on that below.

With Gratitude,

P.S. I just had a great conversation with Learner-Centered Collaborative Partner, Dr. César Morales. We explored the power of collective efficacy and the work of transforming education systems. Give it a listen here, and let me know what you think!

Not Your Traditional Flower Shop (or High School)

When I walked into Blooms, I introduced myself to the manager. It turned out she was also the floral design teacher for students looking to learn more about her craft. That means she runs the floral shop, which is a fully functioning business that provides floral arrangements to the community, while also teaching and managing her students who work in the shop. All of this is made possible because Blooms is set up in Opportunity Central where many business spaces serve as a storefront and a classroom.

At Blooms, students learn, design, and create their own floral designs to be sold in the store. The high schoolers develop expertise in a craft, earn course credit and certification, and can also receive a commission when their floral designs are purchased.

By integrating hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship, and access to a range of resources, Forney ISD is redefining what high school can be, ensuring every student is empowered to take ownership of their education and future success.

What has recently inspired your learner-centered practice (directly or indirectly related to education)? Let us know by replying directly to this email :)

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Operationalizing the Vision in Escondido Union School District. "Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Escondido Union School District (EUSD) faced a pivotal question from Superintendent Dr. Luis Ibarra: "Are we going back to the same status quo? Was where we were working for us?" The answer led EUSD not just to articulate a new vision, but to fully operationalize it across their district." Read their story.

🎯 Support Learners in Understanding Themselves. "For learners to make high-quality decisions about their learning, they need to develop a strong sense of self. We can support this self-discovery through the use of frameworks, tools, and time for self-reflection and exploration. Discover how educators like you are doing just that in their communities." Access the examples.

👩‍💻 Partner with Learners to Reach their Full Potential. "Explore ways to ensure all learners can access learning experiences equitably and are supported in their next steps in life by exploring different college and career options while building their social capital through a support network." Start learning here.