AASA Names Spring 2023 ‘Lighthouse’ School Systems to Serve as Models to Help Transform Education

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May 17, 2023

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org

Selected districts exemplify AASA's Learning 2025 Commission Initiative

Alexandria, Va. – May 17, 2023 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce six school districts that have been recognized as “Lighthouse” systems to serve as models of positive change in public education.

The selected designates are members of AASA’s Learning 2025 Network, a cadre of more than 120 demonstration systems representing forward-leaning, urban, suburban and rural school districts engaged in learning, networking and working together to help drive education policy and ultimately improve student learning. Last year, more than 20 districts were named “Lighthouse” designates.

The goal of the network, which was created by the AASA National Commission on Student-Centered, Equity-Focused Education, is to guide Learning 2025 leaders as they chart their progress toward a “Lighthouse” designation in one or more areas of growth. The commission called for identification of exemplary educational systems to serve as beacons of light in key areas of a holistic redesign of American education.

“The superintendents and their teams that serve our ‘Lighthouse’ systems believe in the work and the importance of the work,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “These districts are shining examples of communities that are providing future-driven change in response to the needs of the students in their respective districts. In today’s public education landscape, it is so mission critical to get the work done in a manner to invoke positive best practices for the well-being, self-sufficiency and success of our young learners. Congratulations to the new ‘Lighthouse’ systems and the school districts associated with the Learning 2025 Network.”

These districts are shining examples of communities that are providing future-driven change in response to the needs of the students in their respective districts.

The AASA Spring 2023 Learning 2025 Lighthouse Systems are:

“Using the word ‘Lighthouse’ should not be seen as a label, but rather a concept for school districts to learn and grow with one another and work together on behalf of the 50 million students in our public schools,” said Mort Sherman, AASA senior associate executive director and co-chair of the commission. “This initiative should be viewed as a way to envision the arc of possibilities bestowed on the millions of children we serve across our great country—to provide endless opportunities to reflect on the majesty of the work that is happening right now in our school communities.”

Districts were reviewed based on strategies and recommendations developed by the commission. Redesign component indicators included:

  • Social, Emotional and Cognitive Growth
  • Future-ready Learners
  • Cognitive Growth Model
  • Learners as Co-authors
  • Accelerator A1: Diverse Educator Pipeline
  • Accelerator A2: Early Learning
  • Accelerator A3: Technology-enhanced Learning
  • Accelerator A4: Community Alignment
The Learning 2025 National Summit

The second annual Learning 2025 National Summit, co-hosted by AASA, SPN and BFK, on June 26-28 in Washington, D.C., will bring together leadership, faculty, boards and staff from across the country to highlight the work building future-focused capacity by these exemplar districts in alignment with the commission. Over the course of the summit, participants will learn from each other, as well as thought leaders and national experts, through keynote presentations, how-to sessions and networking sessions focused on strengthening culture, instruction and maximizing the use of resources. Click here to learn more.

Educators are encouraged to access An American Imperative: A New Vision of Public Schools, prepared and issued by the commission in 2021. The report articulates AASA’s vision, which is intended to serve as a guardrail for specific change, while also empowering districts and schools to tailor plans to the needs of their leaders and learners.

For additional information, contact Mort Sherman, AASA senior associate executive director, at msherman@aasa.org, or Valerie Truesdale, AASA assistant executive director, at vtruesdale@aasa.org.

To join the conversation via Twitter, please access #Learning2025.

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About AASA

AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org. 

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