Blog
Distributed Leadership in Schools: Students as Ambassadors
Written by Dr. Leighangela Brady, Superintendent, National School District. Dr. Brady is also a member of the Learner-Centered Collaborative Advisory Council. Distributed leadership offers a way to harness the collective strengths of all members of an educational ecosystem, including school staff, parents, community partners, and most importantly, students. While adults often take center stage…
Blog
In a Learner-Centered Community, We Are All Communicators
Creating a learner-centered community requires clear, transparent communication that puts students at the center. Through transparency, feedback loops, and storytelling, we can amplify student voice and build shared vision. Through Muhlenberg’s digital spaces, Mentor’s Guiding Coalition meetings, and Hampton’s multimedia storytelling, we see how intentional communication creates environments where everyone—learners, educators, administrators, and families—contributes…
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Operationalizing the Vision in Escondido Union School District
See how Escondido USD is turning ideas into actions with student forums, a guiding coalition, and a Framework for the Future.
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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…
BlogWebinars
Webinar Recording: The Power of Storytelling in Building Engaged Learning Communities
In this webinar, Learner-Centered Collaborative’s Marlon Styles hosts a conversation with Craig Heath, Superintendent of Mentor Public Schools, and Juliette Funes, Communications Officer for Lynwood Unified School District. Together, they explore the power of storytelling in fostering engaged learning communities. They discuss innovative strategies to amplify student voices, align strategic themes with impactful communications,…
Blog
Building Relational Trust: Our Journey with Lamont Elementary School District
Contributions from Catina Hancock, Learner-Centered Collaborative and Dr. Lori González, Lamont Elementary School District In California’s Central Valley, Lamont Elementary School District is redefining what’s possible in education. Serving over 3,000 students, many from low-income backgrounds and a high percentage of English Language Learners, Lamont faced unique challenges. But under Superintendent Dr. Lori Gonzalez’s…
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Building Community Partnerships: A Strategy for Sustaining Learner-Centered Education
Written by Danielle Delrosario Danielle DelRosario is a Community Schools/MTSS Specialist in Escondido Union School District and member of our inaugural LC Innovator cohort, where learner-centered educators come together to share bright spots and ideas around innovative practices The current research on community partnerships in education indicates tremendous benefits for students, namely: enhanced…
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A Spotlight on the First UCSD + LCC Research Convening of the 24-25 School Year
In July of 2023, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the Learner-Centered Collaborative (LCC) announced a groundbreaking partnership to unite researchers, practitioners from LCC, and regional districts in advancing learner-centered practices. A group of Southern California districts kicked off this school year with the new name SoCal Link. In the spirit of sharing and…
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How Hawaiian Charter Schools Are Honoring Identity
Brought together by a shared vision to create a more expansive student transcript reflecting whole child learning, charter schools in Hawaii offer a glimpse into their process—from vision to implementation.
Blog
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…
Blog
One Educator’s Journey to Authentic Learning: Building Trust, Empowering Learners
Early in my teaching career, I was fortunate to have the mentorship of my grade-level team, a seasoned group of educators ready to support and collaborate on nearly everything. As I prepared to teach 8th grade US History, I shadowed my colleague’s English classroom, where I observed some incredible literature discussions. Intrigued by the deep…
Blog
How a Small School System Created Big Impacts in Learner-Centered Education
Co-authored by Stacy Penson, Director of Elementary Level at The Innovative School, and Catina Hancock, Partner at Learner-Centered Collaborative The Innovative School’s journey from a Reggio-inspired preschool to a thriving two months-5th grade program exemplifies the power of small systems to drive big changes in education. Our story is one of growth, challenges, and triumphs…
BlogWebinars
Webinar Recording: Creating Coherence and Aligning Systems Toward a Learner-Centered Vision
In this webinar, Dr. Andrée Grey from Encinitas Union School District and Dr. Cory Steiner from Northern Cass School District discuss how they are transforming their school systems to center learners in meaningful and personalized ways. Hosted by Catina Hancock of Learner-Centered Collaborative, they explore the importance of creating enabling conditions for change and…
Blog
The Power of Student Voice: My Journey on the D11 District Accountability Committee
By Carissa Rickard, Student in Colorado Springs School District 11 My name is Carissa Rickard, I’m 16 years old, and I serve as the student representative on the district accountability committee (DAC) for Colorado Springs School District 11 As a student representative, my role is to provide a crucial perspective on how district policies…
Blog
See Me, Know Me, Grow Me: Personalizing Learning for Learner Agency and Success
Education is in a constant state of evolution, striving to meet the diverse needs of students in an ever-changing world. However, between 25% and 54% of students feel disengaged in school, with less than half feeling positively challenged or aligned with their strengths (Hrynowski, 2024). These statistics highlight the urgency of adopting a more…
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Scaling Learner-Centered Innovation: It Takes a Community (of Practice)
The benefits of a Community of Practice last well past the collaborative time together. LeShae Daniel makes the case for why you should say “Yes!” to interactive, collaborative learning with colleagues.
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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…
BlogWebinars
Webinar Recording: Competency-Based Assessment: From Measuring Seat Time to Demonstrating Learning
In this webinar, Bostonia Global’s Nerel Winter and School Foundry’s Jeff Petty share innovative ways to assess student learning through real-world demonstrations and exhibitions. We delve into the importance of performance assessments, where students not only showcase their knowledge but also their ability to apply it in practical, meaningful ways. Questions explored include: How…