January 8, 2026

Dear Educator,

For years, I have been living by the mantra that people create what they experience. That's why we are so committed at Learner-Centered Collaborative to create adult learning experiences that mirror what we want to provide young people; namely, learning experiences that are personalized, authentic, and competency-based.

Just before the holiday break, I worked with a team to codesign a learning space for brilliant education leaders to come together and begin answering this question:

How might we create Horizon 3, future-ready, comprehensive learning models that inspire and prepare young people to flourish in life, career, and democracy in the age of AI—serving both individual potential and the common good?

The sprint experience was intentionally structured: interdisciplinary teams, rapid cycles of imagining and building, and a steady rhythm of reflection and iteration. With the right support, generous resources, and room to dream boldly, teams didn’t just rise to the challenge—they exceeded it.

In this week's Bright Spot, I want to share a particularly energizing experience as it related to AI use.

With Gratitude,

AI as a Catalyst for Human Creativity, Connection, and Wisdom

One of the most energizing parts of the week was witnessing how AI became a catalyst—not a replacement—for human creativity, connection, and wisdom. Throughout the sprint, teams leveraged AI to:

• Accelerate prototyping,
• Expand the range of ideas they could explore,
• Visualize possibilities they might never have articulated on their own, and
• Stay rooted in what matters most: human flourishing.

The technology didn’t overshadow the work; it elevated it. It created more space for empathy, imagination, and deeper listening. It helped people step outside the constraints of what is and spend more time in the realm of what could be.

I walked away inspired by the depth, boldness, and humanity embedded in the models teams created. In the months ahead, these Horizon 3 models will be curated and shared publicly alongside event videos. I can't wait to share and to imagine how we might unleash creativity, cultivate agency, and strengthen learner-centered ecosystems.

Here’s to a future where human potential is amplified—not diminished—by the tools we create. And here’s to the communities brave enough to design for that future now.

I feel more bullish than ever that if we want to change how students learn, we have to change how we as adults learn and intentionally get out of our comfort zones to design, test, and lead by example. Is your school or district looking to reimagine professional learning? Let's talk! Reply directly to this email to schedule call!

School Redesign conversations are happening across the country, including at the state level in places like California, Virginia, and Indiana. It's exciting to see these conversations taking root! If your school is exploring what redesign might look like at your site, we encourage you to explore our School Redesign Playbook and the accompanying tool on how to form a strong school redesign team.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Our Year of Redesign, Renewal, and Relentless Hope. "This year was proof that when educators, leaders, families, and students come together with purpose and imagination, true transformation is not only possible—it’s already happening." See the proof here.

📖 Redesigning Public Systems So All Learners Can Thrive. "Learner-Centered Collaborative’s 2025 Impact Report showcases how we are redesigning public systems by combining deep partnership, networks, and field-building with the ultimate goal of creating the conditions where all learners can thrive." Read the report.

🎙️ Episode 49: Policy, Practice, and the Future of Learning (with David Cook). "David Cook shares why moving from measuring achievement to assessing evidence of learning changes everything for teachers and learners, and why asset-based approaches must be the focus in any impact-focused educational design." Listen here.