Open Way Learning and the Human Restoration Project are helping Michigan middle schools build student agency through interdisciplinary PBL, portfolio-based assessment, teacher collaboration, and sustained coaching. Early results point to stronger engagement, belonging, and student well-being as the Third Coast Learning Collaborative continues to grow.

This databook shares early findings on how learner-centered ecosystems are developing and operating in practice.

In Niagara Falls, New York, a town with shrinking job options, students are encouraged to consider their careers in ninth grade

Explore Getting Smart podcasts featuring conversations with educators, innovators, and leaders reimagining learning for the future. New episodes weekly.

and the human revolution

What if one of the simplest ways to regulate your nervous system was sitting right in front of you? Coloring isn't just for our students! Repetitive, creative activities like coloring can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system the body's "rest and restore" response by slowing breathing, reducing stress, and giving the brain a chance to reset. While coloring doesn't directly "calm the vagus nerve," it can support vagal regulation by creating the conditions for relaxation and mindfulness. As educators, we spend so much time caring for others that we often forget to care for ourselves. Taking just a few minutes to pause can make a meaningful difference in how we show up for our students, colleagues, and communities. #EducatorWellbeing #StudentCenteredLearning #WNCRP #TeacherSupport #MindfulTeaching #OpenWayLearning #ProfessionalLearning

Douglas Yacek explores civic education, student engagement, and how authentic teaching can bridge the stimulation gap.

Part 3 of our Vagus Nerve Exercises series, featuring simple practices that can help calm the nervous system, improve focus, and support overall well-being. How might we create learning environments where both students and educators can thrive? Sometimes the most powerful tools are also the simplest. Vagus nerve exercises can help regulate stress, improve focus, and support emotional well-being, important reminders in a profession that asks so much of educators every day. In this short video, we're sharing a few simple practices that can help bring calm, connection, and balance into your day. #EducatorWellbeing #SocialEmotionalLearning #WholeChildEducation #TeacherWellness #StudentCenteredLearning #MindfulSchools #EducationLeadership

Mayfield High School makes it a priority to let students choose how to learn, whether through internships, self-paced learning or traditional classes.

The Western North Carolina Resilience Project demonstrates how communities can are strengthened by educator-leaders who listen to students.

How might we build small moments of regulation into our day? In our latest video, we explore the connection between humming and the vagus nerve, part of the nervous system that plays a role in how we respond to stress and return to a state of calm. While simple, practices like humming can serve as reminders to pause, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves throughout the day. Supporting well-being isn't just an individual responsibility. It's also about creating school cultures where educators and students have the tools, relationships, and conditions they need to thrive. #TeacherWellBeing #EducatorWellness #VagusNerve #StudentCenteredLearning #SchoolCulture #WNCResilienceProject

Laurie Santos, the renowned Yale professor, cognitive scientist, and host of The Happiness Lab, shares a science-backed toolkit for busy educators in need of a wellness tune-up.

AI in schools won’t matter until school workflow changes—shifting from fixed instruction to adaptive, personalized learning systems.

Ben Daley explains how his instinct to avoid reinforcing hierarchy kept him from getting the full benefit from improvement reviews.

Madison Early College High School is putting together its first fashion show at Marshall High Studios on May 15 to benefit Marshall’s Beacon of Hope.

Exam review doesn't have to mean worksheets and cramming. In this video, Michelle explores four research-backed practices that help students retain learning, stay engaged, and build deeper understanding leading up to assessments! #StudentEngagement #Assessment #StudentCenteredLearning #TeachingStrategies #ProjectBasedLearning #LearningScience #EducationLeadership