Authors

Coding is the New Cell Phone: Student Achievement Transformed

Dr. Wanda Davis - SLPS

The First Book

Amie C. Reed - O’Fallon IL

Activating Student Voice: The Wild Safari of Hiring A New High School Principal

Laura Steinbrink - Plato School District

We're Not There...YET

Patrice Bain - Veteran Educator, Author

A Novel Approach

Meaghan Harned - Barnes & Noble - Saint Louis

Make Yourself at Home

Shannon Anderson - Van Elementary School in Rensselaer, Indiana

Extra! Extra! Journalism Helps Students Achieve

Megan O’Brien - Hazelwood School District

The Humanity of Technology

Matt Lacy - Jackson School District

Connecting with Our Kids

Leslie Creath - Webster Groves School District

Published Date

5/9/19

Forward

High quality learning experiences for all students each day is one of those big hairy audacious goals that seems beyond grasp for most schools.. There are headwinds everywhere pushing back against places of learning. These challenges include financial struggles, facilities modernization, healthy students and staff, community-based trauma impacting families, poverty, and many more create a complexity in solution making. At the founding of Connected Learning, Chris McGee and I sought a new path, a path walked by the innovative educators that looked differently at the challenges in education. We wanted a place where positive energy flowed between and among classrooms, schools, and district, so that the normal silos of education would be replaced by new depths in collaboration. This has led to amazing moments where people have been able to share their unique skills and passions, and most importantly, the energy of Connected Learning is spreading, and more and more teachers are feeling how high quality learning experiences can create fresh joy and engagement in the classroom.

Stories of Change is a three part series designed to share the hard work and dedication of teachers in classrooms, schools dedicated to modern learning, and school districts striving for a greater definition of success. Connected Learning has found that sharing stories of success is one of best ways to spread great ideas, build positive momentum for innovation, and push back against the often misguided narrative that somehow schools throughout the area are failing communities and families. We continue to be encouraged by the impact of the hard work and dedication of educators throughout our region, and we hope that our Stories of Change series elevates a few of these narratives. We know that there are many more successes just like these sitting below the surface, and we encourage our allies in education to share, celebrate, and showcase these stories of change, so that all of us can continue to make sure that all students have incredible learning experiences each day in every classroom.

Authors of the Project