Our district partners are all medium sized districts with significant socio-economic and ethnic diversity, and a commitment to equity in their deeper learning work. All have a commitment to changes at the classroom, school, and system level to deepen and spread powerful learning for all young people and adults. We are pleased to be in partnership with these school districts in the US and British Columbia, Canada.
Abbotsford School District, BC
The Abbotsford School District has 46 schools that are attended by over 19,200 full and part time students. As the largest employer in the city, we employ over 2,200 full and part time teaching and support staff who are committed to helping students succeed. The Abbotsford School District honours the traditional territory of the Sumas First Nation and Matsqui First Nation on which our schools are located. It is with respectful consideration that the programs and services we provide to students and families are sensitive to the cultural protocols of these two communities. The district has a strategic plan that is connected to the implementation of the competency based provincial curriculum. More specifically, we are invested in improving practice in several key areas: improving student engagement; critical creative and collaborative inquiry; self-regulated learning and digital literacy.
Burlington School District, VT
Burlington School District (BSD) is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 4,000 students in Burlington, VT. BSD’s mission is to graduate students who: value different cultures, engage with the community, communicate effectively, think creatively, skillfully solve problems, and achieve at their highest academic, intellectual, and personal potential.
Cowichan Valley School District, BC
Situated in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on southern Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Valley School District serves a population of over 8,000 students. We are honoured to be learning on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Stz’uminus, Penelakut, Halalt, Lake Cowichan, and Lyakson peoples. Our district extends north to Saltair, south to Spectacle Lake and west to the Lake Cowichan region. The school district has approximately 1,300 employees, 21 schools and has a $100 million annual budget.
Arlington Public Schools, MA
Arlington Public Schools serves 5,755 students in Arlington, MA. Our vision is to be an equitable educational community where all learners feel a sense of belonging, experience growth and joy, and are empowered to shape their own futures and contribute to a better world.
Chicago Public Schools - Network 16
Chicago Public Schools is a district of 646 schools that serve roughly 330,000 students. mission is to provide a high-quality public education for every child, in every neighborhood, that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.
Farmington Public Schools, CT
Farmington is located in the center of Connecticut with considerable town pride in its history and also local business and industry known for innovation. The town’s demographics are changing to reflect a more diverse population economically, racially, and culturally. The district is comprised of 7 schools serving about 4,000 students and their families who reside in town or come to us from Hartford through the Open Choice program. Farmington Public Schools is widely regarded as a leading district in the state, with a strong and enduring commitment to excellence and equity for all learners. The foundation of our work is expressed through the FPS Vision of the Global Citizen and the Framework for Teaching and Learning that articulates our instructional model for deeper learning.
Fayette County Public Schools, KY
Fayette County Public Schools consists of 80 schools that serve over 40,000 students across the Lexington, KY metro area. FCPS aims to create a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels and graduate prepared to excel in a global society.
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
Nestled along the Monterey Bay, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District stretches from the city of Marina to the north to the city of Monterey to the south. The district encompasses the cities of Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside and is home to approximately 10,150 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12. MPUSD has 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, an alternative continuation high school; and a handful of programs including adult education, after school academy, career technical education, early childhood education, special education and more. MPUSD envisions a school system that serves all scholars well, and engages them in deep learning so they are prepared for college and career. MPUSD is committed to attracting the most highly qualified, enthusiastic, dedicated and diverse teachers and classified staff for our scholars. At MPUSD, we value the following commitments: Every person matters, Each day counts, Learn something new every day, Improve with purpose, and We are better together. Six pillars guide our work: powerful teaching and learning, leadership as the lever, service mindset, commitment to equity, positive culture, and creativity and innovation.
Revere Public Schools, MA
The Revere Public School District is located adjacent to and just north of Boston on the Atlantic Ocean. The district is comprised of eleven schools: six elementary, three middle, one high school and one alternative school, including a state approved Innovation School and three Expanded Learning Time Schools. The district serves over 7,800 students of which 71% receive free or reduced lunch and 62% return from school to homes where English is not the primary language spoken. As urban educators, we are proud of our many accomplishments including improved MCAS scores and the rich cultural resources we find in our students and their families.
Rochester Public Schools, MN
Rochester Public Schools is located in the middle of South-Eastern Minnesota and spans 218 square miles. There are 27 schools in the district; 17 Elementary Schools, 4 Middle Schools, 3 High Schools, and 1 Alternative Learning Center. There are over 18,100 students in the district, more than 80 spoken languages, and approximately 85% of our students graduate from high school in four-years.
Vancouver School Board, BC
The Vancouver School District acknowledges that it is on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Coast Salish First People. The District is among the most diverse public school systems in Canada with an annual enrollment of approximately 50,000 students in Kindergarten to grade 12. Situated on the west coast of Canada, the Vancouver School District also provides educational programs and services to full-time Adult Education students. Our programs and services address the extraordinary and complex opportunities associated with a diverse district. The District’s goal is to serve the needs and tap the potential of each of our students so that they may achieve their unique potential.
West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA
Located on the San Francisco Bay, the West Contra Costa Unified School District serves 29,000 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 as well as adult learners. As one of seven unified school districts in Contra Costa County, we serve the cities of Richmond, Hercules, Pinole, El Cerrito, and San Pablo and the unincorporated areas of East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, Bay View-Montalvin Manor, North Richmond, and Tara Hills. We are the 30th largest local education agency in California. More than 80 languages are spoken within our 65-square-mile jurisdiction.
West Vancouver Schools, BC
West Vancouver Schools (WVS) is a community of learners that draws students from West Vancouver, Bowen Island, Lions Bay and beyond. WVS is built on a tradition of academic excellence. WVS is comprised of 14 elementary and 3 secondary institutions. In each school, they celebrate the potential of every student, and work to equip them with the conscience and character to persevere in our complex and fast-changing world.
Image Credit: Abbotsford School District
Image Credit: Abbotsford School District
Reflections from participants:
“This has been some of the best professional learning that I have ever received. I appreciate the space and time to learn from and with others, to think about key practices and principles. I deeply appreciate the focus on our three principles and the time to reflect in order to be better.”
“This community stretches my thinking, and gives me tools for being a more centered and humane leader. It challenges me to consider how my practice and my decision-making is and can be radically inclusive, and even while challenging me to think differently, affirms my own values and perspectives.”
“Our work can be so isolated and isolating. It is also so very complex. DLD brings great minds and hearts together to share and learn.”
“Every DLD experience over the last 3 years has reminded me of my humanity and our interconnectedness. The humility of this group is equal to its brilliance. Every DLD experiences strengthens my sense of self, belong and connectedness to the world and our collective struggles and gifts.”
“[DLD] has sharpened my focus on equity and amplified the need to truly have student voice as the foundation for decision making. Each convening is like a tonic for me, providing a sense of rejuvenation/renewal as it allows me to step outside of my role, my work and our district's work and view it all through a more critical lens.”
“DLD has helped me think more systemically about the challenges we face and how we can better approach the work of equity in student learning.”
“Participation has shifted the way that I work with people in our organization. I have been intentional in sharing this work with my immediate staff and with those that I work tangentially with. The work has changed my perspective on creating change and how it is deeply rooted in the indigenous knowledge and teachings that I value.”
“[DLD] has brought me joy through both the hard work and struggle that we engage in individually and collectively (as a district and as a whole DLD team) and the social interactions as well. The timing, in a world of great upheaval: Trump, the national and even international focus on race and policing and gender, and then a pandemic, could not have come at a better time.”
“[Deeper Learning Dozen] has been catalytic in helping us bring about the genuine transformation in student experience we seek.”
Want to learn more about transforming school districts to support deeper learning for all?