Leading Educators

New from EdWeek Market Brief: Leading Educators and The Learning Accelerator discuss why we teamed up to launch the first-of-its-kind School Teams AI Collaborative. “Oftentimes technology is just designed for educators to use. This is an opportunity for educators to also design their own tools, to interact with technologists, and to think about, ‘What does it actually look like for my kids in my classroom? What are the problems that we need to solve?’” said Chong-Hao Fu, CEO of Leading Educators. Teams of educators from 19 schools in nine cities across the country will work on developing uses for AI tools in the classroom, test those efforts in coaching cycles, and document their learning throughout the 2024-25 school year. Read the story: https://hubs.la/Q02VTTJt0

Reaching a better future requires many people with diverse experiences and perspectives to come together around common goals to do the hard and necessary work. It's a process that demands openness to new ways of thinking. Changing your mind or evolving your thinking is not easy. Hear how these school and system leaders did just that (via Education Week): https://hubs.la/Q02ZLXCd0

Alongside other academic disciplines, science education lays important groundwork for a better future, but it often gets less focus (and fewer resources) than other subjects. Solona Hollis, our senior director of science strategy, offers a fresh perspective on how students should experience science in schools.

Just as teacher skill drives better student outcomes, principal success is key to teacher success. Yet, many principals are struggling to meet new demands and guide their schools to nurture consistent, high-quality teaching and learning in every classroom. Our new paper reveals actionable steps for aligning principal support with instructional leadership—a critical foundation for school success. ?? Get your copy today: https://hubs.la/Q02ZJ_Ls0 ? Want an even deeper dive? Register for "Using Action-Oriented, Multi-Layer Coaching to Nurture Instructional Success," our webinar with Teach for America on Dec. 12: https://hubs.la/Q02ZJ-Y60

We talk a lot about the importance of ongoing professional learning for all educators. And for professional learning to be effective, it has to be anchored to a shared vision of excellent instruction that is evolving. It’s more than adopting a particular instructional framework: it’s naming what students will experience in our classrooms to be prepared for their future goals and what teachers will need to know and consistently do to make that experience possible. ?? Learn how we helped our partners in Yakima School District #7 navigate the visioning process: https://hubs.la/Q02ZK3Cz0

As we enter this week focused on gratitude, we're thankful to work with visionary leaders like Harlem Community School District 5 Superintendent Sean L. Davenport, Ed.D., who is equipping New York educators to change lives through literacy. He shares, "We have a 40 percent literacy rate right now—one of the highest percentages the district has seen—but we need to continue to move that number forward." District 5 is one of three bright spots from the first year of NYC Reads implementation. Dr. Davenport knows that literacy is just one part of a larger vision. "We want to make sure [our students] can communicate, advocate for themselves, and fight to be seen and heard within the greater society. We want them to be viable citizens and civically engaged. We want them to be the best versions of themselves, and that comes with holistic education. Harlem is on the rise." https://hubs.la/Q02Zr74q0

“The Revolution will be Literate!” Yesterday, as I sat on that stage and engaged in the panel discussion at #BMEC2024, I had a moment of reflection: How often do Black men get to sit and speak about literacy—with precision, with expertise, and with passion? It was a humbling and powerful experience, one that reminded me of the critical role Black men play in the revolution around literacy. When I think about the movement to accelerate Black literacy, I know this: the revolution cannot start, and it cannot succeed, without the contributions of Black men. To every Black male educator in the audience yesterday, I hope you were compelled to not only understand but to embrace the power of evidence-based literacy practices. These practices are not just tools—they are transformative. They can shift outcomes, empower our students, and ensure that we are providing them with a fundamental human right: the right to read.

Live from Philadelphia, our very own Managing Director for the Science of Reading, Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., is taking the stage at #BMEC2024 to discuss practices for revolutionizing literacy!

??? New from Chalkbeat: Ann Schimke profiles how Denver educators are experimenting with AI in the classroom and navigating its limitations. She writes, "The sense of excitement about AI in education is real, with a flood of products on the market and a complementary stream of AI conferences, training, and webinars available to K-12 educators." One of these efforts is our yearlong Schools Teams AI Collaborative with The Learning Accelerator, which launched in Denver last month. Read the story: https://hubs.la/Q02ZcdkX0

Phenomena-based instruction is at the core of the next generation science standards, designed to put students in the driver’s seat of their science learning. But what do students need to think, explore, and question like scientists? Achieving this shift starts with giving teachers the right support. Through our emergent science supports, including the Next Generation Science Educators Network, we help system leaders encourage inquiry, exploration, and deeper engagement. ?? Curious about how phenomena-based instruction works in practice? Dive into this primer: https://hubs.la/Q02Z2bjy0