“How might we redesign school to better meet the needs of each student?” We posed this question to educators in the Dallas Independent School District back in 2014 with the hope of bringing together like-minded educators who wanted to redefine what’s possible for students and teachers in a large, urban district. This question still continues […]
Reflections on the Real-Time Redesign Process The need for school systems to make near-term, meaningful improvements to teaching and learning has never been greater. Systems are facing increased pressure to adapt teaching and learning to meet individual students’ diverse needs as well as the changing needs of the world around them; systems are also deepening […]
Amanda Pelukas joined Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) in Michigan to transform P-CCS’ Virtual Academy. “COVID remote learning,” as Pelukas described it, needed to improve. Instead of solving the problem on their own, Pelukas and her team joined a network of peers facing similar challenges called Strategy Lab. Months later, Pelukas and the P-CCS virtual team […]
In response to the ways COVID-19 highlighted inequities in their schools, a small team of district leaders at Austin Independent School District embarked on a process to redesign elements of their teaching and learning to make school work better for more kids as part of the Always Ready for Learning Strategy Lab. Despite the daily […]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Learning Accelerator, along with Bellwether Education Partners, created a new networked learning community focused on equity and resiliency called the Strategy Lab. The nine-month, pro bono, cohort-based learning experience supported seven school systems in their reopening planning in the fall and winter of 2020 through expert support and […]
The following terms are used in the Real-Time Redesign toolkit developed through the Strategy Lab. Educational Equity “Creating opportunities and removing barriers in educational experience so each student can reach his or her full potential – in academics and beyond; removing the predictability of success in academics or other life outcomes along lines of race, […]
The Learning Accelerator is excited to share a newly redesigned website for the Parabola Project, which provides evidence-informed tools to help school leaders identify options for school reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parabola Project draws on expertise from both the education and health communities with the goal of minimizing health risks to students, staff, […]
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson Transforming schools and districts from industrial models to student-centered ones is bold, noble, worthy work that requires a sustained effort over a long period of time. Typically, such movements begin with one bold, visionary […]
