Understanding how to connect with the challenges your community and stakeholders are facing is the...
Teachers invested in centering equity in their classrooms should update or replace these 12 common...
Use this list of key identifiers for areas of both success and improvement in your virtual learning...
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In this resource, principals and school leaders will find focus area-specific checklists that will...
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Learn how to create a successful personalized learning environment, guided by diversity, equity,...
As districts design and implement plans for the next school year, we must redesign education with...
Download the second part in a series focused on planning your return to school to learn...
Learn about how we approach planning for a return through a responsive lens that allows you to...
Learn how to use responsive practices to plan your district's return, with a four-step process for...
A tool for all teachers PreK-12, from those who are new to implementing virtual learning to those...
Share tips with students on navigating virtual learning environments.
Get an introduction to responsive practices to plan your district's return, with a...
What will equity look like for the next generation of students and citizens? The one absent voice...
Apply our team's expertise in remote work culture to your team's new WFH reality.
While our school buildings are closed, learning is still happening and teachers are still teaching....
It is crucial to evaluate the people you need to engage in order to have a richly representative...
There are several best practices that lead to efficient, effective, and yes, even joyful virtual...
As you begin a new initiative or initiate your strategic planning process it is essential to engage...
As we consider how school might look in the coming months and years, we must pause to consider what...
Leaders from three districts share their process of return to school planning, practical tips on...
We explore how schools and districts are now thinking about rituals, as well as suggestions for...
Leaders struggle to improve how their teams collaborate, make decisions, and achieve their goals....
A brief that illustrates how to use the Core Four Elements of Personalized Learning to align...
Join a panel discussion led by TABSE (the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators) that will...
Intended to support, not evaluate, this tool helps you to set goals for teachers based on the Core...
A tool for all teachers PreK-12, from those who are new to implementing personalized learning to...
A brief that illustrates how to use the Core Four Elements of Personalized Learning to align...
This is an introduction to the eight key design elements to consider at a system-level when working...
Bold thinkers, action-oriented leaders addressing the inequities in the here and now, and what...
As schools and districts shift to personalized learning, creating alignment across classrooms and...
The continuum presents the various activities which educators can undertake in the classroom in...
This white paper will help create an inclusive and effective dialogue to get families and other...
While innovation is important, it can be intimidating to embark on a journey of change. Learn how...
Playlists are an effective personalized learning tool for classrooms. This guide will help...
The paper focuses on four areas of change which have the biggest impact on modernizing existing...
Parents will learn about techniques employed by instructors at the classroom level to empower...
The following infographic will show you three base personalized learning models for districts and...
In our role of serving as a support to students, it’s important that we are mindful of the ways...
Whether practicing social distancing amidst a crisis or reimagining celebrations in virtual...
The current circumstances are demanding more from us, and from our organizations than ever before....
Introducing modern technology into classrooms and schools can seem like a daunting task. See what...
Communication has always been an essential skill for teachers. This webinar is designed for...
With the future of our education system remaining uncertain, teachers are positioned to make a...
Join our webinar to learn more about what we tried and what we learned over the last 60 days: the...
Are you looking for some fun ways to add collaboration to your virtual PD? We share our favorite...
This webinar will share a process to enhance remote learning to be as meaningful as possible by...
Use this workout alongside our Strategic Planning Prioritization Guide to help your team build a...
As workplaces and spaces have moved to the web, so have our work habits. This new perspective could...
In this webinar, coaches will learn how to utilize a responsive communication cycle and tools for...
District leaders were asked to transition everything they would normally do within their school...
Join us as we share practices and ideas from around the country on how to leverage responsive...
Educators can use these strategies to work toward meeting students’ social-emotional needs in...
How leaders and educators might need to rethink ways to support students virtually, especially when...
Here’s how GOSA developed a network to allow schools from across the state to maximize their PL...
Read about responsive practices that we equipped districts with, to take on their unique challenges...
Anthony introduces the concept of personalized learning and breaks down three important changes...
Educators from across the country come together virtually to initiate a conversation about how...
We share strategies to leverage existing resources and people to create a wider range of meaningful...
Whether you’re trying to maintain learning, move learning forward, or transform the experience for...
it is important to set clear expectations around virtual learning experiences for students and...
After having worked with Education Elements for 5 years to refine its approach to instruction and...
Learn how Wake County expanded its network of schools to meet the growing population, opening two...
Getting started with personalized learning? Here are some common mistakes to avoid.
It's important to “right-size” the number of initiatives - you don’t want to take on too many...
Tactical meetings are a convenient forum where all circle members are together to sync up on the...
Learn strategies to provide teachers with clear pathways for learning, leadership, and promotion.
Each framework is comprised of competencies for the respective leadership role — district leader,...
Learn how personalized learning can support equity in schools and classrooms.
What are the core competencies of teacher leaders? Use this guide to develop yours.
Learn strategies to attract and select teachers based on an inspiring challenge and clear...
Use the core competencies of innovative school leaders to flex your leadership muscle and learn to...
What is personalized learning, actually? It's not about tech or tools - but about meeting the needs...
The rurality and remoteness of Fairbanks could potentially create a gap in preparing the students...
The following infographic will show you three base personalized learning models for districts and...
Explore the core competencies of an innovative district leader to develop your skills and better...
Warren went 1:1 with Chromebooks and implemented new technology in their classrooms. Despite...
Coaches have unique roles and responsibilities in a school - learn the core competencies of...
Explore the role of PL to support, guide, and drive Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) in ways...
A quick intro to how to kickstart personalized learning in your school or district.
Learn how to use the Core Four to align PL and PBL in a way that is tangible for teachers and...
Learn why it's important to build systems that empower teachers to be decision-makers and...
Uinta wanted to better prepare students for college and careers by helping them become...
These stories represent our work with organizations large and small, in places where we are just...
Personalized learning is complicated, and requires clear objectives and effective communications in...
One of our partners shares what to look for when hiring a consultant to work with your school or...
Some quick tips to improve how your team functions and works together.
The culture of your district will impact the culture of your school leadership as well as teachers....
Learn why it's important to celebrate learnings and successes regularly across our community - and...
Hartford is home of high poverty students, dealing with much more issues in life than they...
Responsiveness is key to adapting quickly, innovating, and supporting the needs of our teams and...
Despite outperforming most districts in the state, HCS realized they could do more to raise...
Here are some of the common pitfalls you might encounter when you first embark on your personalized...
What's the importance of innovating – and leading your team to do the same? Learn how innovative...
Personalizing learning can revolutionize the school and classroom experiences in ore ways than one....
By focusing on the Core Four elements, teachers, principals, parents, and students will create an...
The Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES wanted to support the districts in rethinking teaching and...
We’ve created this strengths audit to help you gauge your current practice for The New School...
Learn about keeping your strategic plan nimble during times of change. Our team shares a template...
To help focus on individual students’ needs, SCSD worked at the district level to rethink...
Learn how RUSD dealt with declining enrollment as students left for other school districts.
From preventing Zoom fatigue with bio breaks or DJ’ing our way through independent...
LCPS serves a rapidly growing community, as the county’s population has doubled since 2000....
Our personalized learning classroom walkthrough guide: The Core Four Look Fors helps you to set...
FCS spent two years developing a strategic plan and vision for personalized learning. The...
What are some clear indicators that signify the success of your personalized learning...
Join us for a conversation about how we might adjust our recruitment, onboarding, and teacher...
During this webinar, participants will learn concrete and actionable strategies to infuse learning...
Join us for a conversation about the strategies that teams - whether central office or teacher...
Our current normal may not be all that new – or normal for that matter. As workplaces and spaces...
This new perspective could become normal and a good “new normal” if we take the time to ensure that...
This new perspective could become normal and a good “new normal” if we take the time to ensure that...
Join members of the Education Elements team and unwind after a day of work with some retro...
Keep your innovative leadership habits healthy and strong with some quick New School Rules...
Educators have been hard at work taking care of their school community. Today we'd like to share a...
Adapting to remote work can be challenging. As educators, we’re primarily focused on ensuring...
This webinar will share key responsive practices to proactively communicate through the next phase...
At Education Elements, we have identified 8 elements that must work together to increase teacher...
In education, we are all experiencing something unprecedented, the entire national education system...
The current circumstances are demanding more from us, and from our organizations than ever before....
Learn real practices you can put into place to create an environment where vulnerability from...
Discover our guided process in creating your own strategy for effective and thoughtful...
Together, we’ll discuss how decisions can continue to be made in a responsive way through uncertain...
During a time where information quickly becomes outdated, leaders must approach their planning with...
Watch this virtual innovation session if you are a principal or coach, or if you support school...
An excerpt from the new book from Anthony Kim & Alexis Gonzales-Black. In chapter one of "The NEW...
Get hands-on training exercises that help you design and implement an effective program with...
See Clyde-Savannah CSD's strategic plan to get ideas on how to a real-life school district has...
Quick guide to all the things you'll need to support the implementation of a district-wide...
See South Brunswick's strategic plan to get ideas on how to a real-life school district has...
Use this guide to get started with implementing blended learning across your school or district.
To meet the demands of our changing workforce and to solve real-world issues and be productive...
Districts all around the country are trying to understand how to set a strong foundation for...
Are you ready to start a virtual school or program but don't know where to start?
Low attendance rates can have a drastic impact on students - through school and beyond. Use this...
See how the League of Innovative Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools are working toward...
What are the primary challenges in teacher recruiting and retention? Learn our theory of action.
See how Kansas led school redesign across the entire state.
Learn about our approach to personalized learning.
We recommend using this simple check in/out process to begin shifting the habits and culture of...
District leaders, teachers or anyone interested in a competency-based implementation will find...
This white paper, the third in the series, is focused on the third phase of curriculum...
This white paper is meant to provide context around why the framework was created, provide...
Determining the right mix of offline and online curriculum tools is crucial to the success of...
Developing your Personalized Learning curriculum strategy can be complex. Ideally, everyone at...
This guide explains how blended learning fits into a personalized learning model of instruction....
When funding is low, what can your district do to make sure instruction isn't interrupted,...
Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of is...
It’s December. We made it to the end of 2020 – a spectacularly stressful year, no...
This Fall, Education Elements hosted our first ever virtual Distance Learning Road...
The systems that teachers and leaders design and implement in schools are all...
A known unknown is a question we are certain exists, but whose answer we are...
As a new mom, I cared deeply about two things: my baby’s well-being and my sleep. I...
The pitter-patter of toes on our wooden floors, reminiscent of a spring rain pinging...
The Education Elements team, like the rest of the world, has been adapting to...
This is a special blog post because not only am I interviewing an expert in family...
At Education Elements, we know that a leader is critical in navigating a school...
Fenestration, in architecture, is the way windows, doors, and openings are placed...
On January 28, 1986, the space program experienced one of its most catastrophic...
This year has exacerbated the national crisis of staffing in schools. Attrition was...
We’ve talked a lot about the need to improve teacher retention. During the pandemic,...
When I was studying research methods as part of my doctoral degree, the running joke...
I moved a lot with my multi-cultural family as a kid. If you know me, you know this...
At the core of innovation in companies leading the way in developing solutions for...
Across the country, students have returned to school, whether it’s in-person,...
School boards across the country are experiencing marathon meetings as they listen...
Typically in times of uncertainty, organizations tend to shift their focus to...
“It’s all happening!”
–Penny Lane, Almost Famous
This month, those of us who love...
Student engagement is one of the most overused terms in education. We talk about...
In February, my husband and I bought our first home in Pasadena, Maryland, right on...
"We all get caught up in the business of doing, and sometimes lose our place in the...
As school returns, we know this year presents unique challenges and changes to both...
There is no question that our lives have been flipped around over the last few...
“Aim small, shoot small,” is an old saying that many of us...
In an effort to reconnect with students to truly understand their experience with...
Welcome back, educators and leaders, to a school year like none we’ve encountered...
As teachers everywhere gear up to go back to school in various settings this Fall,...
What a time to be alive. Many of us, particularly educators, are wearing hats we...
Educators across the country, and around the world, have found themselves in a whole...
Regardless of where students are physically learning this school year, educators...
In the Fall of 2019, I lost my...
Learning is most powerful when students feel valued, honored, and empowered. The...
Through most of the spring and summer, we at Education Elements have intensely...
After I wrote the first blog in this series, I received a call from a close family...
“To admit uncertainty is to admit to weakness, to powerlessness, and to believe in...
At the age of five, my shyness was taken for lack of understanding and I was tested...
If you are anything like me, you are at a loss for how we are suddenly in the last...
Here we are, looking down the barrel of another stretch of at-home learning. We...
There has been a lot of research done on what makes teams great. Google committed an...
The first time I tried to cook a meal in my own place was a disaster. Within 10...
“There has to be a better way!” I remember a character on a movie or TV show I...
A bank teller, Jeff Bezos, and a Starbucks barista walk into a...school district...
I'll be honest here--after my college years, any chance of me being a dedicated...
In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by the police,...
As we look toward reimagining schools, we encourage leaders to keep in mind that...
There is something about this crisis that has brought out the baker in many. Even...
The abrupt shift to distance learning directly challenged the knowledge, mindsets,...
In times of uncertainty, organizations tend to shift their focus to getting results,...
Research matters! When developing your Continuity of Learning (CoL) plans there are...
The worldwide response to COVID-19 is creating unforeseen challenges and virtual...
The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the need to redesign school to ensure that...
One of our favorite expressions is that the only constant thing in life is change,...
When I was younger, my mother and I would sit for hours playing the game Mastermind....
"Resilience doesn’t just mean getting back to normal after facing a difficult...
Every summer, I look forward to seeing the Little League World Series prominently...
The best way to find out if you can trust someone is to trust them.
- Hemingway
...
Donald Rumsfeld once said that there are three things we know - the things we know,...
In a single month in 2020, the unthinkable happened. Students in all 50 United...
Last summer, I decided to hit the road for a year as a “digital nomad,” giving up my...
There is a strange contrast between moments during this time. I wake up with the...
While the author of the quote isn’t certain (many attribute it to acclaimed...
Schools were asked to transition everything they would normally do within their...
Teachers have a tremendous impact on the learning and lives of their students and...
To close out this series on how to get your organization primed for remote work, I’d...
Distributing information in an organization can sometimes feel like playing...
Many leaders are making decisions that impact their entire organization in response...
Many organizations are learning how they can push their work forward as they...
Working with colleagues in-person may provide more many opportunities to build trust...
Not too long ago, you may have found yourself wondering if 5 minutes was enough time...
Remote work is a hot topic right now, and if you are not used to working remotely,...
Much of the initial planning around remote learning was based on the assumption that...
As of last weekend, President Trump has extended the national shutdown in the U.S....
The past few weeks have been full of new routines for all of us as we try to plan...
The ability to navigate ambiguity is a top skill of effective leaders, and there has...
During this time of uncertainty and rapid change, the students, families, educators,...
Schools across the country have closed their doors to protect students, employees,...
I’ve written several blog posts and admittedly, this has been one of the harder...
Many school districts are closing to keep their communities safe from COVID-19....
As the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak spreads, more school districts have been asking...
I had the opportunity to attend a webinar with Lynn Carter, Director of Talent...
As a first generation college graduate, I recognize daily the impact my investment...
Dear K-12 Education Community,
With just a few days left working at Education...
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, more school districts are asking us how they...
I walk in, dragging my feet a bit, set down my coffee, click on the speaker and with...
One of the beautiful things about having a career in education is that you have...
The team was sitting together after the final workshop for the final wave of schools...
“I found my people!” “This is like church!” “I feel so energized!” “Can we do this...
There are many avenues you can take when making change in your organization. Change...
Erica Williams Simon, founder of Snapchat’s Creator’s Lab and one of my favorite...
Personalized learning has captured the attention of many education reformers. Much...
To create the schools children deserve, we must coach educators and leaders for...
I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that my life is a day-to-day journey to reach...
In a world hyper-focused on influencers and celebrities, it is no surprise that...
As we count down to this year's Education Elements Summit, we asked presenters from...
There’s a school in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas, TX that brings a one-size-fits-one...
Located along the Hudson River and just 60 miles north of New York City, Newburgh...
The foam on the edges of the waves grazed the outside of my foot and I felt the sand...
Take a look at your calendars and consider the number of meetings you have each...
Since 2003, Discovery’s show Mythbusters has been a smash hit. Though Adam & Jamie...
In Forest Hills School District (FHSD) there have been pockets of innovation and...
In the early month of December, Anthony Kim and I had the opportunity to visit Mason...
The best conferences are generally those that expand your thinking, reframe a...
Every team meeting we have at Education Elements begins with a check-in question....
What is the definition of innovation? It turns out that most people can’t agree. I’m...
Just a few weeks ago I found myself in the North Pole. No, seriously, this nice...
A few years ago I found myself in the middle of an aisle at the home improvement...
A few years ago, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) took a big bet...
In an economically disadvantaged part of Charlotte, N.C., there is a public school...
After selling our D.C. area home and looking for more than a year to buy what we...
As Thanksgiving approaches and 2019 nears an end, I’m taking some time to reflect on...
Education Elements and Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) came...
Why Pursue Personalized Learning?
In October 2017, AdvancEd conducted our five-year...
Our experience, past success, and hard won wisdom can cloud our perspective on...
During the Education Elements Personalized Learning Summit 2019, one of our keynote...
Have you ever caught yourself working deadline to deadline without coming up for...
“What’s it like in other schools? In other districts? In other states?” After eight...
The start of a new school year often brings with it discussions about new vision...
We all experience the world in different ways. I know that, as a white person, my...
In a 2018 study conducted by TINYPulse, a company specializing in employee...
Late August is a lovely time to visit Northeastern Ohio, and as educational leaders...
Standing in line at Starbucks ready to order my Venti black coffee, I pull out my...
I was on a phone call with two principals earlier this week who shared a concern I...
How does professional development get labeled in your school or organization? Too...
How do we design the schools of the future, today? Designing innovative structures...
Teaching, often considered one of the most noble professions one can pursue, has...
This summer I had the pleasure of working alongside my Education Elements colleagues...
How are you? What is bringing you to this blog post today? What is top of mind for...
At Education Elements, we believe that sparking learning through creativity,...
I had a middle school science teacher once tell me she was surprised that I did well...
So, you’ve completed a round of stakeholder engagement activities. You clarified...
“One bag of peanut butter M&Ms, please.” It’s the first step I take as I enter a...
As we work with hundreds of school and district leaders, we often hear that staff...
“And we both hit our goal weight!”
“That’s amazing! So how did you celebrate?”
“We...
This year, four of us from Education Elements (Megan Katie, Jill, and Keara) will be...
At Education Elements, we pride ourselves on being a responsive organization. Like...
The back to school season is upon us. While teachers are busy setting up, and...
Last year, a group of educators sat down with engineers from a well-known technology...
As any great leader pursuing innovation in education knows, having a clear “why” for...
Equity and personalized learning share quite a bit of common ground. They each...
Take a look inside a high school physics teacher’s classroom. In her fifth year, Ms....
I released my body weight and fell to the ground. My aching shoulders wouldn't let...
We are big readers here at Education Elements, with book clubs and recommendations...
In The New School Rules, Anthony Kim and Alexis Gonzales-Black write that every...
We are Personalized - This was the number one goal in our new District Strategic...
Sometimes, the really thought-provoking stuff just lands in your lap...or in the...
It’s mid-May at Baychester Academy, a public elementary school in the Bronx’s...
Think back to a recent meeting you were in when you pondered why you were a part of...
“Working with consultants isn’t cheap - how do we know if it’s what we need?” We...
Predicting the future of classroom technology trends empowers teachers and school...
When I tell friends and family about the types of projects I’m working on with...
During the last 100 years in the workforce, we needed farmers and factory workers;...
It's been almost exactly 2 weeks since the 5th Annual Personalized Learning Summit...
Never before has a generation had so much and seemingly wanted for so little. An...
Behavior counts. How employees and students are treated and whether they feel...
I am a newlywed who has just returned from a glorious 2.5-week vacation for my...
Imagine a school in which every classroom you enter, you’ll find curious, joyful...
In 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported that educators were leaving the teaching...
Personalized learning represents a shift in how we teach students, a reflection of...
It’s that time of year again. Wildflowers are blooming (at least here in Texas!)....
Personalized learning represents a shift in how we teach students, a reflection of...
For many districts and schools, choice boards, playlists, and pathways are used...
Personalized learning represents a shift in how we teach students, a reflection of...
As Education Elements continues to grow, I’ve been privy to the hiring process. I...
Personalized learning represents a shift in how we teach students, a reflection of...
I was at a professional learning session about learning design this week when I...
Planning and opening a new school is an exciting yet daunting task. As a leader of a...
One of the major issues that schools face is engaging with parents, community, and...
A few months ago I attended ICLE’s Leadership Academy in Atlanta and heard Dr....
Last August, my Education Elements “familEE” of consultants and district partners...
Five years ago, our team partnered with the Economist Group to conduct a study where...
When school leaders want to bring innovative practices to classrooms, what's the...
In 2012, Google began studying how workers can transform productivity by examining...
Over the past several years, more and more schools across the U.S. have been...
The year 2020 is shaping up to be a record year - Summer Olympics, a World Cup, a...
There is a scene from the recent Star Trek movie reboot of a young alien named Spock...
We're counting down the days to this year's 5th annual Personalized Learning Summit!...
“Coaching" means something different to everyone. Many of us have had both positive...
What’s the most meaningful thing a district can do to support innovation in its...
Every 4-5 years, I try to pick up a new activity and focus on it until I get to a...
In Putnam County, Tenn., with 23 schools spread across 400 square miles, we share...
The end of one year and the beginning of the next is frequently a time of...
Over the past year, we published 71 posts, and we’ll probably manage to sneak in a...
Are you a district or campus leader who struggles to find highly qualified or highly...
“I don’t think I would have made it through that year without her.” “His support...
As a former superintendent and now consultant for a small startup tech company, I...
Many people enjoy sitting in the front row while attending a movie they have not...
Several years ago, I was selected by the Lexington Institute for their initial...
“The more senior you are, the more important listening becomes. Once a leader...
I recently read Chip and Dan Heath’s new book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain...
Do you ever have trouble falling asleep because you can’t stop thinking about what...
For many, being an innovator conjures a vision of being the one out in front,...
As we work with schools and policy-makers to successfully implement student-centered...
As a learning organization, we are always improving and iterating
School leaders...
