Point of Reference

By Ellen Perconti, Superintendent of Goldendale School District in Washington State. The third-grade students were busy arranging and rearranging desks. They had just received news that the whole class could learn in the classroom together,…

Student Ambassadors for Contributive Learning

By Dr. Tina Marcoionni, Director of The Learner First (TLF) Australia In my first weeks partnering with Murgon State School in Queensland, Australia, we were working through School Capability #1—understanding your school, your learners, and…

Enough

By Ellen Perconti, Superintendent of Goldendale School District in Washington State. Over the last several days, I’ve found myself reflecting on the concept of “enough.” When it comes to who we are and how we see ourselves as individuals,…

When We Say No

By Ellen Perconti, Superintendent of Goldendale School District in Washington State. Years ago, in the depth of winter, our school team was asked by a teacher to support a kindergarten student (“Lisa”) who, in response to every request,…

Joanne McEachen at [RE]LEARN

Between November 9-20, 2020, the [RE]LEARN Online Learning Innovation Festival brought together thought leaders from around the world to share insights and strategies aimed at creating global shifts in education. With over 200 speakers and 60…

Edmund Hillary Fellowship

For her continued innovation and thought leadership in the global education sector, The Learner First CEO Joanne McEachen has been selected as a Fellow by the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF), a network of leaders and entrepreneurs committed…

The Good and the Bad: Equity, Assessment, and the Great Education Crisis

“Assessment shouldn’t serve as a judge, but a guide, giving students direction on where to go next. It ‘fits’ students into the academic system, but should show them how they fit into the world—who they are, where they’re going,…

SEL and Social Justice Series

“When we’re talking about equity, we have to redefine success. Because meaning and fulfillment is the new wealth, and contribution is the only way to earn it.” —Joanne McEachen, CEO, The Learner First The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted…

Joanne McEachen on Contributive Learning

In support of the Getting Smart Podcast’s “difference-making” focus, The Learner First’s Joanne McEachen sat down with Getting Smart CEO Tom Vander Ark for a conversation on her new book, The Depthvale Detectives and the Great Education…

Profile of a Principal in Liminal Times

By Mary Coverdale, Director of The Learner First, Australia. It’s becoming common to use the anthropological term “liminal” to describe the period of time we are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It means the space and time between…