More than 250 educators from across Arizona and the country gathered on January 8-9, 2024, at Rio Rico High School, 590 Camino Lito Galindo, Rio Rico, AZ, in an effort to scale and spread personalized learning practices.
The two-day event, hosted by the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 in partnership with Center for the Future of Arizona and KnowledgeWorks, offered educators, administrators and stakeholders an immersive learning experience.
Attendees explored personalized learning strategies and heard first-hand accounts of implementation successes and challenges from representatives of the SCV35 school district, a pioneering hub of educational innovation.
“Knowledge doesn't shine its brightest when it's held in isolation. It's in the sharing of our real-world applications, experiences and challenges that we can really ignite innovation and forge a path for others across the state,” said Stephen Schadler, assistant superintendent, Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35. “By sharing, we not only spread the power of this transformative approach but cultivate a community— where we can share collective wisdom and resources.”
The event boasted a distinguished lineup of speakers who are at the forefront of educational innovation including renowned educator and author, Steve Bollar, motivational speaker and life coach, Thomas Valles and two teaching and learning instructional strategists from the national education non-profit, KnowledgeWorks.
The institute covered a wide range of topics to equip attendees with actionable insights and strategies, ranging from creating a shared vision to how we rethink assessment and accountability to align with a competency-based approach to education.
“True transformation begins when innovation can meet the intricacies of the local community,” Robin Kanaan, director of teaching and learning at KnowledgeWorks said. “This event represented an incredible opportunity for transformative dialogue about how we can collectively reshape the future of education in this country.”
Peter Boyle, senior director of education for Center for the Future of Arizona, said he hopes the institute will serve as a launching pad for scaling learner-centered practices in the state and beyond.
“By bringing together experts, practitioners and enthusiasts, the institute is one of many strategies we are pursuing here in Arizona to accelerate the adoption of personalized, competency-based learning practices,” Boyle said