Leading Educators

Too often, math instruction focuses on right or wrong answers rather than the thinking behind them.? But when students are given the space to explain their reasoning, debate different approaches, and collaborate with peers, they deepen their understanding and build confidence in their abilities. In Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), we’re helping teachers foster mathematical discourse using routines like “notice and wonder” and “which one doesn’t belong” so students can communicate their ideas, justify their reasoning, and engage in meaningful problem-solving. When students take ownership of their learning, they don’t just get better at math—they start seeing themselves as mathematicians. ??? ?? How do you encourage student-led learning in your classroom? Let’s share ideas in the comments! ?? ?? Learn how LAUSD is creating math classrooms where every student’s voice matters: https://hubs.la/Q03cVJDp0

I've really appreciated learning from The Learning Accelerator and Leading Educators's practical strategies developed by the School Teams AI Collaborative. This goes beyond the typical AI 101 by putting students and teachers in the driver seats to build things themselves (in a safe and effective way). Definitely check it out if you haven't already! Shout out to leaders like Jin-Soo Huh, Albert Kim, and Zach Kennelly for making this happen. https://lnkd.in/eDSKpzQn

Last week, I had the opportunity to co-facilitate a session I designed on Mathematical Discoveries Through the CRA Approach to almost 100 CCSD elementary math teachers, coaches, and leaders! While I thoroughly enjoyed designing the session, what I enjoyed the most was seeing the collaboration, the aha moments, and hearing ideas for next steps from participants! I am so glad I get to do this work through a partnership between Leading Educators and Charleston County’s Transformation Schools! Now it’s time to brainstorm my next design! ?? Andrea Fitzgerald Quenetta White

As part of our 2025 #AI Strategy, we at Overdeck Family Foundation are supporting grantees to thoughtfully adopt AI, through participating in the AI Accelerator, a program we're sponsoring in partnership with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and led by Playlab AI and Leading Educators. The AI Accelerator program aims to help nonprofits explore, develop, and implement AI-powered solutions to enhance programmatic outcomes. This cohort brings together organizations to collaboratively build AI tools, receive expert coaching, and refine strategies for meaningful impact. Participating organizations receive: ? AI literacy and strategic implementation ? Collaborative problem-solving with peer organizations ? Hands-on development of AI-driven solutions ? Expert coaching and technical guidance We're thrilled to be supporting seven of our grantee organizations to take part in this Accelerator and will be sharing more lessons, insights, and innovations from the cohort as it continues throughout 2025. Stay tuned to learn more about this capacity-building opportunity!

What if professional development actually felt relevant, engaging, and immediately useful?? Too often, professional learning is disconnected from daily practice—one-and-done workshops that don’t lead to lasting change or application in the classroom. ?? In a Q&A, literacy coach Megan MacFeat shares how Baltimore City Public Schools' ongoing professional learning strategy focused on the science of reading is actually shifting practice. With support from Leading Educators, the district has built intentional, ongoing learning where teachers receive targeted coaching, apply new strategies in real-time, and engage in follow-up conversations to refine their practice. This isn’t just PD—it’s a mindset shift toward continuous learning. ?? Read Megan’s insights on what makes professional learning stick: https://hubs.la/Q03cnTjK0

Students at DSST Public Schools used Playlab AI to build AI chatbots tackling real-world issues like voter registration & pathways to citizenship! ?? Providing students with hands-on AI experiences can transform learning, increasing relevance and empowering students to make a tangible impact in their communities. Explore how to utilize this strategy in your classroom with TLA's latest resource, developed in collaboration with Leading Educators: https://loom.ly/9yhBvwA #EdTech #K12

Having almost 250 of the Transformation Schools’ teachers, coaches, aps, and principals together for a morning of learning for our final PD day of the spring was so much fun yesterday. We always appreciate the enthusiasm CCSD brings to learning and our partnership. Quenetta White Michelle Simmons Dr. Luke Clamp Charleston County School District Leading Educators Ikecia Sigh Andrea Fitzgerald Rashay Foster Regina Atkins M.ED, HRM, SHRM-CP Rebecca Dill

?? How often have you heard a student say, “I’m just not a math person”? For too long, math instruction has been passive and educator-centered—teachers lead, students follow, which leaves many students seeing math as something they either get or they don’t. In Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), we’re helping district leaders redefine what mathematic excellence looks like in the classroom. With support from Leading Educators, teachers are shifting to a “You do, we do, I do” model.? Students grapple with real-world problems first, collaborate with peers, and build problem-solving skills before direct instruction. The outcome? More engaged, confident students who see themselves as mathematicians. ?? What’s one strategy you’ve used to help students feel more confident in math? Share in the comments! ?? Read how LAUSD is empowering students to take ownership of their learning:? https://hubs.la/Q03bMklV0

In a recent op-ed with the District Administration, Chong-Hao Fu, CEO of Leading Educators,?lays out what’s working—and what’s next—for real change in education. We’ve seen progress before. Cities like Chicago, D.C., and Baltimore prove that educational improvement works when we invest in: ?? cross-sector partnerships ?? bolstering leadership ?? thinking more broadly (and specifically) about student success ?? leveraging technology with an instructional focus The path forward is clear—do we have the will to walk it? ??? Read it here: https://hubs.la/Q03bMzzZ0

What do you do if you are trying to learn from student work, but students are turning in blank papers? For Michelle Smith, a math coach in Baltimore City Public Schools, this was one of several challenges she needed to help educators overcome as they adjusted to using Eureka Math. Through our work together focused on helping students express their mathematical thinking, Michelle and her team learned to: ? create scaffolds that help students articulate their problem-solving approach ? use word clouds, Frayer models, and academic language strategies to deepen and assess conceptual understanding ? refine strategies used to promote access for students acquiring English The result? More confident students, stronger teacher collaboration, and math classrooms where every student is positioned to excel. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q03bwKJZ0