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Getting Smart supports edleaders in discovering and implementing what to do next. In collaboration with our vast network of resources and partners, we design informed, strategic solutions that last. To learn more about our services and solutions, check out our services page.

World Changers: Schools That Make a Difference with Emily Liebtag and Tom Vander Ark

Schools that value routine and compliance around facts and formulas do not yield the personal agency and leadership skills demanded by a world full of novelty and complexity. In this session, we will highlight and learn from 10+ schools that are working to empower young learners to find their purpose and determine how they might contribute to their communities. Learn lessons from leading educators and students who have found their purpose and ways to make a contribution.

Tell Your Story: Dream. Design. Deliver with Jessica Slusser, Caroline Vander Ark and Manuel Herrera

We all have a story to tell. Learning how to share and shape a narrative is a powerful tool. Our storytelling journey begins with understanding our “why” and making reflection part of our daily routine. This workshop uses design thinking to develop a personable brand for your school, organization, or self and shows the power of differentiation. You’ll finish with a new, marketable narrative and reflective growth practice. Bring your paper and pens and get ready to doodle, draw, and share!

We’re so excited to share the new book The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education by Tom Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag and Nate McClennen. This book will be availabe on March 9, 2020 and is available for pre-order now!

“Dispelling the notion that place-based education is an approach limited to those who can afford it, the authors describe how schools in diverse contexts urban and rural, public and private have adopted place-based programs as a way to better engage students and attain three important goals of education: student agency, equity, and community.”