Across our partnerships, we are reminded that learner-centered change doesn’t happen by chance—it happens through intentional Big Moves that center learners, elevate voices throughout the learning community, and create conditions where everyone can flourish. We hope the stories and resources below spark ideas for your community's next move.
Enjoy!
QUICK HITS
📖 5(ish)-minute reads for those in-between moments
FEATURED ARTICLE: How Hampton Township’s School Design Teams Brought the Portrait of a Talbot to Life (5-minute read)
"Hampton’s approach demonstrates that system-wide change is possible when vision, strategy, and distributed leadership come together—and when student and educator voices are at the center." ~Brittany Griffin
The Learning Experience Design Cycle: A Compass for Designing Deeper Learning (7-minute read)
"The Learning Experience Design Cycle offers a clear, flexible compass to help us navigate the messy, iterative, and rewarding process of designing for deeper learning." ~Kelly Williams
Debunking the Math Myth: How Learner-Centered Classrooms Deepen Understanding (6-minute read)
"When we shift our mindset, we realize that math is about empowering students to explore mathematical concepts, build their own strategies, and understand the “why” behind the numbers." ~Allie Wong
Reading, Writing, and Rising: Centering Literacy in Learner-Centered Education (7-minute read)
"When we ground opinion and argument writing in student identity, inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we do more than meet standards. We nurture critical thinkers, empathetic citizens, and confident communicators." ~Stephanie Buelow and Charlotte Frambaugh Kritzer
Embracing Possibility at the Start of a New School Year (4-minute read)
"The most effective leaders balance optimism with focus: reminding their communities of what has already been accomplished, clarifying the next set of priorities, and reinforcing a shared vision for what is possible." ~Devin Vodicka
DEEP DIVES
Long reads, listens, and views for those topics you can't get enough of
FEATURED WEBINAR: How to Leverage AI in Your Learner-Centered Classroom (45-minute watch)
"With perspectives as both a principal and district leader and a teacher/coach, our expert panelists illustrate how AI can serve as a thought partner for educators and students while staying grounded in whole-learner outcomes."
SUMMER LEARNING SERIES: School Design for Learner-Centered Ecosystems (explore the full series)
"In partnership with the Learning Policy Institute, Learner-Centered Collaborative hosted a four-part webinar series that provides practical strategies and frameworks for leaders ready to take on the challenge of redesigning schools for a more learner-centered future."
SUMMER LEARNING SERIES: Distributed Leadership for Learner-Centered Change (explore the full series)
"In partnership with the Learning Policy Institute, Learner-Centered Collaborative hosted a four-part webinar series that explored how distributed leadership evolves schools and districts by expanding leadership beyond a single role and cultivating shared responsibility across teams."
PODCAST: Co-Leadership, Trust, and Redesign (with Devin Vodicka) (56-minute listen)
"In this episode of the Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast, Dr. Katie Martin and Dr. Devin Vodicka dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the state of education, leadership, and the future of schools. Together, they reflect on signals of change—from eroding public trust to the rise of AI—and share optimism about opportunities to redesign systems in more learner-centered, human-focused ways."
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Bringing learner-centered practices to life
FEATURED RESOURCE: Designing the Future: Case Studies Highlighting AI in Service of Learner-Centered Classrooms (access here)
At Learner-Centered Collaborative, we believe AI holds promise as a tool that can support the creation of education ecosystems where learners know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engage in the world as their best selves. This publication explores specific, successful, learner-centered uses of AI in K-12 education that can be utilized as a model for schools as we enter a new era of technology.
If you are an educator looking to embed Durable Skills into your learning experiences, lessons, units, and projects, this tool is for you. Unlike general AI applications like ChatGPT that require you to guide the conversation, this app guides you, providing specific and relevant prompts for you to design meaningful learning experiences with and for your learners.
NEW PUBLICATION: Pathways to Possibility: Reimagining CTE in California’s Continuation High Schools (access here)
Across California, continuation high schools are creating more personalized, purposeful learning experiences for students who have often been underserved by traditional systems. This report, developed by Learner-Centered Collaborative and the Center for Powerful Public Schools, highlights how a sample of continuation schools is leaning into this challenge.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Connecting with learner-centered educators in-person and online
FEATURED EVENT: Breaking Up With Grades at the FullScale Symposium (register here)
October 25, 10am-4pm CT | New Orleans, LA
WEBINAR: How Districts Are Making Big Moves to Create Learner-Centered Systems (learn more)
November 18, 12-1pm PT | Virtual
WEBINAR: Community Conversation: Let’s Talk About Competency-Based Learning (learn more)
.png?upscale=true&width=1040&upscale=true&name=Devin%20and%20Katie%20Email%20Signature%20(2).png)
