Big Ideas and Bigger Possibilities: A Summer 2026 Recap
Two big things happened at Partnerships in Summer 2026 that capture the possibilities for authentic learning!
We celebrated our fifth annual Summer Institute for Authentic Learning and Leadership, convening hundreds of passionate educators and industry experts from across Ohio and beyond to engage in and explore dynamic keynote experiences, 50+ breakout sessions, and plenty of collaborative dialogue about authentic learning and leadership. We leveraged our experience together to feel inspired, to grow our practices, and to connect with the joy of teaching and leading. One idea kept surfacing that we hope to carry through 2026–2027: MOONSHOT THINKING, or the idea of looking beyond what is to imagine what could be.
And the exciting summer of new possibilities continued! We hired two new, amazing, and talented educators, Linda Amici and Lisa Lande!
Meet Linda Amici! Throughout her 33 years of service to schools and learners, Linda has served as an elementary teacher (K-5th grade) and a middle school instructional coach. Now, she begins her new role as Professional Learning Coordinator, where she will coach, facilitate, and design learning transformation with teams, schools, and districts across our Partnerships network. On thinking back to her first Summer Institute in 2022, Linda remembers looking around and thinking, I found my people. Here were innovative educators asking big questions and believing deeply in the power of meaningful, real-world learning to empower young people to make a difference.
Meet Dr. Lisa Lande, our new Associate Director of Educational Partnerships! Lisa will facilitate professional learning, lead school visioning, and support districts with making the linkages between school design and learning transformation. She brings her research and international experience with the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations and a deep commitment to listening, learning, and leading alongside others. Across her career, Lisa has worked as an educator, researcher, author, professor, and leader of large-scale school transformation efforts. When we asked Lisa what her first memory of Summer Institute 2024 was, she described this: I was struck by the care and consideration devoted to planning every detail of the learning experience - as though the organizers had prepared for a family reunion of sorts - an experience filled with surprise and delight and thoughtful special touches sprinkled throughout.
We are thrilled to welcome Lisa and Linda to our team!
From our team to yours, Ellen, Kathy, Emmy, Kristin, Lisa, and Linda are grateful for all you do and excited to make learning irresistible together with authentic learning and leadership in the year ahead.
