January 29, 2026

Dear Educator,

Last week, our Learner-Centered Collaborative team came together for our biannual retreat. We first visited Nashville Big Picture Learning and were grateful for their willingness to host us and their authentic openness about their work.

Learning about their model, hearing directly from students, and witnessing their courageous leadership to create and sustain powerful learning experiences was both inspiring and affirming.

The next day, we participated in design sprints to improve our work for 2026! More on that below.

With Gratitude,

The Joy of Working With a Great Team

Our time together as a team was both joyful and grounding. As a fully remote team, these moments matter. They allow us to learn side by side, deepen relationships, and renew our shared commitment to building education ecosystems where all learners know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engage in the world as their best selves.

I couldn’t be more grateful for this team and the ways they continue to evolve in service of our partners. During design team time, we collaborated to prototype tools, dashboards, and processes that will better support our partners and strengthen connections across this important work of redesigning the future of public education.

The energy coming out of this retreat is real. We’re excited for the year ahead and for the opportunity to test, learn, and refine these ideas alongside our amazing partners. The work is ambitious—and we’re in it together.

Our team has more than 100 years of combined experience making learner-centered education a reality throughout the country. Connect with us to learn how we can support your community's journey.

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. Access the tool here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Is Your Technology Constructive or Disruptive? "SAMR doesn’t just describe what kind of change technology introduces, it also needs to describe whether that change is constructive or destructive." Read more about a much-needed updated to the SAMR model.

🌍 Take Learners into the Real World. "When we prioritize engaging learners in authentic learning experiences and tasks, the entire world becomes our oyster for learning, exploration, and reflection." Head to our strategy page to learn more about how educators like you are opening up real-world learning experiences for their students.

🧑‍🏫 System-Wide Big Move: Career Pathway Programs. "Career pathway programs in K–12 education create opportunities for learners to explore, experience, and prepare for their futures. These programs connect academic knowledge to the tools, skills, and opportunities needed to succeed in today’s workplaces." Discover what these programs might look like in your environment.