Esteemed Colleague,

It's common to solely equate communication with expression—the outward sharing of messages and information. This limited view can create unexpected resistance as we move our work forward. If we really want to harness the power of communication, we must see and utilize the other side of the communication coin—listening.

My professional experiences and research in relational trust have shown me that receptive communication, or our ability to listen and receive information, is equally, if not more, critical than the outward sharing of our work and progress. I explore this in-depth in my latest blog post on being a "listening leader."

With anticipation for our shared journey,

Events & Webinars

SoCal LiNK Convening #2 (get involved)

January 30, 2025 | San Diego, CA

Spring Connections Gathering: Mineola Public Schools (learn more about Connections)

March 12-13, 2025 | New York, NY

WEBINAR RECORDING: The Power of Storytelling in Building Engaged Learning Communities (watch here)

Discover how two district leaders use the power of storytelling to concretize their learner-centered vision, mission, and values throughout their learning communities.

JOIN US AT OUR NEXT EVENT

"The second Western PA Innovation Cohort launched in November. Educators from Hampton Township, Shaler Area, Avonworth, and Deer Lakes convened to learn collectively, celebrate existing best practices, and set implementation goals they'd like to achieve before our mid-December Community of Practice." ~Brittany Griffin

"Wiseburn Unified School District kicked off their entire TK-8 staff Professional Learning series by diving into an exploration of Competency-Based Assessments, Reporting, and Pedagogical Strategies. It was an exciting start to a new journey towards a more equitable learner-centered assessment paradigm." ~Zoë Randall

"It was a big week with Greenfield Union School District. The Guiding Coalition kicked off year two working to bring their Portrait of a Greenfield Learner to life by connecting with students to learn about their experiences and visiting classrooms to build on the Bright Spots where the portrait outcomes are already being cultivated." ~Meg Parry

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How Learning Happens (a series by Edutopia)

To become the undisputed expert in the science of education and learning, you would need to spend every waking hour exploring the latest research in neuroscience, human development, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, economics, public health, and more. When it comes to how human beings learn and grow, everything is relevant in one way or another.

Rather than trying to become the expert in everything, it's far easier and more effective to take advantage of our collective intelligence. My colleague, Katie Martin, recently shared this series on How Learning Happens from Edutopia, a series that kicked off in 2018 and has been updated as recently as February of this year.

I've added three links that piqued my interest as Learner-Centered Collaborative continues its own exploration into building the science-backed case for learner-centered education.

The Science of Learning and Development (watch here)

The research is clear: Strong relationships with educators help students develop the cognitive skills they need to learn and thrive.

Moving From the Comfort Zone to the Challenge Zone (watch here)

When we are faced with challenges, our brains are activated to learn new things—so long as a foundation of safety, belonging, and trust is there as well.

Engaging Families With Social and Emotional Learning Strategies (watch here)

When teachers bring parents in to see what their children are learning, they strengthen the home-school connection and help the adults build skills, too.

Tom Rooney, outgoing Superintendent of Lindsay Unified School District, has been a visionary force in advancing competency-based education. Under his leadership, Lindsay shifted from traditional, time-based education to a performance-based model where learners progress upon mastery of essential skills and knowledge. Tom’s commitment to breaking down barriers has enabled Lindsay to foster a culture of personalized learning, equity, and innovation that prioritizes the unique needs and strengths of each learner. More on Tom's impact.