March 6, 2025

Dear Educator,

I am still beaming from ear to ear after our Designing the Future of Public Education event in collaboration with Forney ISD last week.

We know it is crucial to evolve and align public education with our changing world. We also know this demands visionary leadership, cross-district collaboration, and bold innovation.

In what we hope is the first of many convenings to inspire and equip school systems for transformational change, we convened an exclusive network of district teams to participate in a two-day immersive learning experience at Forney ISD’s Opportunity Central.

To kick us off, George Couros gave a keynote where he emphasized the power of competitive collaboration. At its core, competition pushes us to do our best, and when combined with collaboration, it becomes a powerful force for growth and innovation. More on that in this week's Bright Spot below.

With Gratitude,

Performing Our Best Through Competitive Collaboration

During our two days together, each district team was invited to learn and contribute. Leaders shared what was working in their systems, and we collectively learned and were inspired to embrace “competitive collaboration,” where teams challenge one another to think bigger, act bolder, and elevate learning for all. I was so amazed at how different, yet complementary each presentation was.

One leader emphasized “the power of this network is the willingness to share the process and be inspired.” Rather than working in isolation, these teams brought their best ideas to the table, shared strategies, and pushed each other to refine their approaches. The result? Innovative solutions that benefited individual districts and created a ripple effect of improvement across the entire network.

This mindset—where competition fuels creativity and collaboration ensures collective success—is changing how educators lead and learn. When we push each other forward while lifting each other up, we unlock new possibilities for students, educators, and communities, alike.

How is your school or district taking advantage of competitive collaboration? I’d love to hear your story!

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 your free community mapping template.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

🎙️ The Power of Joy in Learning with Dr. George Philhower. "Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools in Indiana, shares his journey as an educator and leader dedicated to creating school environments where students wake up excited to learn each day." Listen or watch this episode.

👩‍💻 Promote Anytime, Anywhere Learning. "There is a simple truth in education: the more relevant the learning is to the real lives of learners, the more engaged they will be. To make learning "real," we can begin thinking about and creating learning opportunities that happen anytime, anywhere." Learn how to create these opportunities.

🎯 Connect Learners to Mentors. "While your school might not yet have a formal internship or mentorship program, there are still many ways to ensure learners get connected with local community members and with work-based learning experiences." Access mentorship strategies.