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6 School Design Elements That Will Bring Your Learner-Centered Vision to Life
The school you walked into today does not have to be the school you walk into tomorrow. If we allow ourselves to believe this idea, so much becomes possible. We can begin imagining places of learning that adapt, evolve, and respond to the advancements of the modern world and the unique needs and aspirations…
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The Listening Leader: Striking the Balance Between Receptive and Expressive Communication
There is power in sharing your transformational story as your school or district’s learner-centered journey unfolds, and I will always emphasize the importance of communication in fostering a learner-centered culture. However, 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…
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Beyond the Classroom: Cultivating Local Partnerships to Generate Real-World Learning Opportunities
In our pursuit to create learner-centered educational ecosystems, out-of-school partnerships play a crucial role. Collaborations across various sectors not only break down barriers to access and opportunity but also infuse real-world learning into the everyday learning model. By fostering diverse partnerships, schools and districts can significantly enrich the learning landscape, offering students relevant and…
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Homegrown Talent: The Strategic Importance of Internal Growth Pipelines in Education
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, district leaders face the dual challenge of retaining top talent and ensuring effective leadership succession. Developing robust internal growth pipelines is not just a strategy for retention but a crucial aspect of fostering a culture of continuous professional development and career advancement. A well-structured internal pipeline equips educators…
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Unraveling Mixed Messages: The Impact of Misaligned Systems in Education
Coherence across state, district, school, and classroom levels is critical for delivering clear and consistent messages to our learners. However, systemic misalignments often lead to mixed messages that can undermine our educational objectives and the experiences of our students. The Complexity of Educational Systems In simple terms, a system consists of two or more…
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3 Key Elements for Cultivating a Learner-Centered Culture
In our pursuit of transforming education and centering learners by design, we must get the culture right. But, where do we begin? In our work with learning communities across the nation, the Learner-Centered Collaborative team has found three key elements that must be addressed, no matter the context, for a learner-centered culture to thrive:…
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4 Practical Tips for Creating Coherence Within Your District
In any educational setting, clarity of vision, a well-understood mission, and a core set of operational values can fundamentally transform how initiatives are executed and objectives are met. I have come to understand this deeply through my experiences as an educational leader. The privilege of working with school and district leaders from a diversity…
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Education Change Management: The Power of a Guiding Coalition
When I was a superintendent overseeing the implementation of learner-centered education across 30 schools, one of our biggest challenges wasn’t just the adoption of new practices—it was fundamentally transforming how we supported change. While I was Initially resistant to adding more meetings to our already busy schedules, I could no longer deprioritize calls from…
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The Transformative Power of Surveys for Learner-Centered Improvements
In our continuous journey towards creating more learner-centered environments, Learner-Centered Collaborative has embarked on a pioneering effort to harness the insights of those who matter most in education: learners. By developing and deploying comprehensive learner surveys, we’ve aimed to capture a multi-faceted view of student learning outcomes and experiences. Here’s a glimpse into what…
