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🎓"As the school year winds down, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible progress made in the journey toward learner-centered education. Across classrooms, schools, and districts, we witnessed bold steps, powerful moments of growth, and inspiring examples of what’s possible when we center learners by design," writes LCC Co-CEO, Katie Martin.
But what bright spots did you witness? We see a lot of positive change taking place, but as educators, administrators, and community members, we know you`re seeing even more very special moments behind the scenes. Let us know in the comments!
Read Katie`s full blog:
https://learnercentered.org/blog/celebrating-bright-spots-in-learner-centered-education
#Education #BrightSpots #Teachers #LearnerCentered #Reflections
At Hampton Street School, ask any kindergartener what happens in their brain when they learn something new, and they will confidently tell you, “Pop!” That’s new learning.
When they are grappling with a concept and engaged in the meaning-making of learning, that is “Buzz,” reflecting the neurons that are firing.
Finally, when they make it their own, when they build new neural networks, that’s “Zap.”
Those concepts are on the wall in every classroom, enabling students to point to them when needed.
As Superintendent Dr. Mike Nagler notes, “Kids need to know what they don’t know.”
Through a learning model that allows students to choose how they engage with their learning, requires them to collaborate and create together, and track their progress in a Badge Book, students understand where they are in their learning journey and what they need to do to move forward.
Learn more about @mineola_ufsd’s Badge Books and other schools’ approaches to Competency-Based Reporting in Learner-Centered Collaborative’s Competency-Based Reporting Playbook (link in bio).
It`s time for education to have its very own learner-centered change management model. More from Devin Vodicka (@learnercenteredleadership) :
"At Learner-Centered Collaborative, we believe every school or district change journey should start with establishing a vision and mission statement along with a core set of values. How we create these statements is the important question. Before we put pen to paper, we must also articulate a path—a theory of change—that brings the vision to life...
Public education is a uniquely complex ecosystem. Unlike corporate environments, education leaders are accountable not only to internal teams but to elected boards, local governments, state mandates, federal regulations, unions, parent coalitions, and advocacy organizations. Change in this context is never just technical—it’s relational, emotional, and political.
That’s why, at Learner-Centered Collaborative, we believe it’s time for something new.
We are building a change management model for education. One that is inspired by the best of what’s been developed in the change management field but grounded in the daily realities of those within K-12 systems. A model that doesn’t just acknowledge the political nature of education but equips leaders to navigate it with integrity. A model that doesn’t treat change as linear or top-down, but as a dynamic, community-centered process that prioritizes relational trust, collective efficacy, and a learner-centered mindset.
We’re not starting from scratch. We’re drawing on lived experiences from across the country—stories of what’s working, what’s possible, and where traditional models fall short. We’re layering in frameworks that account for emotional readiness, community engagement, and systems coherence. And we’re co-constructing this model with the educators, leaders, and learners it’s designed to support."
If you want to be among the first to access the framework when it’s ready and receive updates as we share insights along the way, sign up using the link in our bio! And, read Devin`s full blog on the topic on our website.
As an all-remote team, we treasure our time together during our semi-annual team retreats.
This week, we linked up in Colorado to refuel and relate.
From fire pit conversations and karaoke to whiteboard brainstorms and collaborative problem solving, we filled our cups to the brim with meaningful connection and an unwavering commitment to creating education ecosystems where all learners know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engage in the world as their best selves.
Later in the week, we were right back beside our partners in places like @suhsdofficial facilitating their Leadership Institute. Principals, APs, and central office leaders gathered to build their capacity to lead the vision of the Framework for the Future by developing clarity and coherence, and fostering connection!
In South San Francisco Unified School District, site leaders met for their final meeting of the 24-25 academic year. To celebrate and carry key learnings forward, they went on a “reflective road trip” to revisit their journey over the course of the year.
Learn more about how we partner with educators to define whole-learner outcomes, design meaningful learning experiences, and create enabling conditions for learner-centered education by visiting our website.
What does it look like when learning meets the real world?
12th grader Everest Orlikowski shares his unique, self-designed, learner-centered journey to Michigan`s Upper Peninsula filled with quirky characters, cultural immersion, and life skills development.
His reflection challenges us to consider:

✏️How can we intersect what we teach with our students` unique interests?

✏️How can we create spaces where curiosity, community, and the world beyond the classroom support and evaluate learners` individual journeys?
Read the full story at the link in our bio.
#LearnerCentered #StudentVoice #EducationLeadership #CommunityBasedLearning
What does the AI conversation currently look like in your school? Who is included in that conversation?
If we want learners to engage with the world through meaningful learning experiences, determining how, when, and why your class uses AI is an important conversation to have.
Take it from LCC Professional Learning Specialist Holly Stipe. In her classroom, she started a research project by showing Super Bowl advertisements about AI to her students and asked them to grapple with two essential questions:
🌟 What ethical considerations should we think about as we use AI responsibly?
🌟 What norms can we agree on as we use AI in our classroom? At our school?
These questions are great conversation starters with your students. Let us know if you try them out!
For more on this topic and Holly`s experience introducing AI into her classroom, check out her full blog post at the link in our bio.
We are so excited to announce our June Catalyzer of the Month!
Tina Meglich is a remarkable leader whose vision and heart have made @conway_eusd a shining example of what’s possible when learning is rooted in purpose, community, and belonging.
As Principal, Tina has cultivated a school culture grounded in the EPIC values—Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Compassion—ensuring that every learner is seen, heard, and supported. Under her leadership, Conway has embraced the principles of expeditionary learning, creating authentic, inquiry-based experiences that connect students to their communities and empower them to explore meaningful, real-world challenges.
Tina’s commitment to learner-centered education has not only elevated the student experience but has also inspired educators across the region and beyond. Whether hosting visiting educators, facilitating professional learning, or engaging families as partners, Tina models the collaborative spirit and moral courage that define learner-centered leadership.
Her national recognition from @eleducation and local accolades reflect what those closest to her already know—Tina is a catalytic force for good in education. We are honored to celebrate her as this month’s Catalyzer and grateful for her enduring contributions to the learner-centered movement!
What happens when educators, researchers, and community partners come together to center learners and learning by design?
Last week, we invited participants from the SoCal LiNK partnership to talk about their lived experience doing just that!
SoCal LiNK is a Southern California regional network focused on advancing learner-centered education through collaboration, research, and community building.
Check out the webinar replay on our website to hear their stories from the first full year of working together.
The Impact of Distributed Leadership from Devin Vodicka (@learnercenteredleadership):
"I have witnessed the power of distributed leadership firsthand. When I began my superintendency at Vista Unified, I had to hire 24 new principals in my first year, teacher retention was at 80%, and the district had been experiencing significant enrollment decline. By shifting from a top-down model to a networked approach, the district saw:
✅ Principal turnover declined significantly.
✅ Teacher retention rose to 98%.
✅ Enrollment recovery driven by improved reputation and staff advocacy out in the community.
Fast forward to today, and one of Learner-Centered Collaborative’s partners, National School District, is showcasing a great example of distributed leadership through student leadership initiatives.
The district’s Superintendent Student Roundtable empowers sixth-grade students to take part in decision-making, engage with civic issues, and lead school-wide initiatives.
These examples further strengthen the research and illustrate a core truth: When leadership is distributed, schools become more stable, innovative, and resilient."
Read more about What it Takes to be a Learner-Centered Leader by clicking on the link in our bio!
It`s been an amazing year with our North County San Diego Superintendents Cohort.
In this week`s Bright Spots, @katiemartinedu reflects on the final convening of the year and the transformational power of cross-collaboration among learner-centered leaders.
To see this happen across multiple districts at a very local level maximizes the impact on thousands of learners at once.
Read more about this group by visiting the link in our bio!
The shape and scope of federal funding in education are evolving, including a potential shift toward regionally focused investments in research and innovation.
With that shift comes an important question: Are communities equipped to lead?
We believe they can be.
Learn more in our co-written piece about Regional Innovation Hubs (link in bio).
Through the inaugural Learner-Centered Assessment Fellowship, @digitalpromise and Learner-Centered Collaborative brought together early-career scholars, education partners, and mentors to explore the potential of collaboration and culturally responsive approaches to educational assessment.
As a final reflection and celebration of their work, each fellow authored a blog post for Learner-Centered Collaborative.
Keisha Lanier Brown (Ph.D. student @georgiastateuniversity) shares her research and proposed theory of change as it relates to increasing access and enrollment of AP and Dual Enrollment opportunities for Native American students.
Check out her research and a case study from Bonsall Unified School District on how the district is increasing cultural visibility and deepening its partnership with local Native communities (link in bio).
There are a number of important and nuanced considerations to make when it comes to integrating AI into the day-to-day learning experiences in our schools and districts.
However, there is one thing that needs no debate. These conversations should be explored in partnership with students.
@katiemartinedu sat down with two high schoolers from @avonworthsd who have been openly using AI in their studies in partnership with their teachers. The results are worth hearing about!
Listen to this important episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
In April, five education innovation organizations—Learner-Centered Collaborative, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, @leanlabed, InnovateEDU, and the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI)—convened a national group of 20+ leaders at @asugsvsummit in San Diego to discuss the potential and promise of regional innovation hubs to prepare every community for the unexpected.
Regional innovation hubs are collaborative ecosystems defined by citywide, statewide, or multi-state collaboration that bring together local educators, researchers, technologists, and community leaders. These hubs provide a collaborative learning, experimentation, and progress framework that aligns with each community’s unique needs and strengths.
Regional ecosystems offer the ideal scale for experimentation and evolution. They’re big enough to impact systems, small enough to build trust, and flexible enough to adapt to context. In short, regional hubs are where vision meets action.
Promising examples of regional education innovation hubs exist. Learn about these examples and how you can join the conversation in our latest blog post!
A new kind of collaboration is taking root in Southern California—one that bridges K-12 schools, higher education, and communities to center and support the whole learner.
Join us next Tuesday where you’ll hear from leaders at Del Mar Union School District, @hightechhighofficial, @ucsandiego, and Learner-Centered Collaborative as they reflect on their first year of SoCAL LiNK: a regional partnership grounded in learner-centered values and real-world impact.
Together, we`ll explore:
💭 How Del Mar and High Tech High are reimagining learner experiences
🔗 What makes the SoCAL LiNK partnership different from typical improvement initiatives
🏫 How higher ed can play a critical role in K-12 transformation
✍️ Lessons you can apply in your own district, school, or classroom
Register for the webinar using the link in our bio!
“We’ve been talking for years about ways to focus more on our mission- and vision-aligned outcomes. The scorecard gave us a framework to prioritize and measure what we value most.”
-Hawaii Educator
Let`s think beyond standardized tests as the only way to measure school or district success. Scorecards provide the opportunity to prioritize whole learner outcomes that celebrate each learner`s strengths within culturally and community-relevant contexts.
Read the full blog and get in touch at the link in our bio.
