Fall 2025 Update: What are Brian and Jon Up To?

We are excited for some of the innovative thinking happening with some of our partner schools and districts in Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Indiana this fall.

In Colorado, we are working with administrators and teacher leaders in the Westminster Public Schools to consider how collaborative teams respond to evidence of learning. This High Reliability Schools District’s long range "Destination 2030 Plan" calls for all schools to reach level 5 certification (Competency-Based Education) by the year 2030.  Five schools have received their certification already and others are well on their way.

In Kentucky, our partnership with Shelby County Schools is now entering an 8th year. This year, our collective focus is how to develop collective ownership of student-centered practices to produce high impact results for all learners in the schools and how to effectively communicate progress to the community? This work closely aligns with Shelby County’s strategic plan and vision for their future. 

This December, we will be working with the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents to unpack strategies and tools with members to help districts be successful with the state’s new statewide local system of assessment and accountability system. 

In New Hampshire, we have begun a seventh year of support with SAU7 in Colebrook, Pittsburg, & Stewartstown, NH. Our October 2024 FullScale Learning CompetencyWorks blog article, co-authored with SAU7’s Jenn Mathieu, highlights how our CBL School District Rubric has been a roadmap to chart next steps with the three schools in this rural northern New Hampshire district. 

In the New Hampshire seacoast, we are in our second year of support with the Portsmouth City Schools as they refine and deepen their work with collaborative teams and student-centered learning in their elementary schools and at their alternative high school program. 

If you’d like to set up a time to chat about your work, we are happy to provide some guidance and possible next steps. Please send us an email at jonvanderels@gmail.com and bstackbu@gmail.com and let’s grab some time on our calendars for a virtual coffee.