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Summer Institute 2025: Launching Schools that are Out of this World!

At Partnerships, our mission begins with this promise: We make learning irresistible.


This summer, nearly 350 educators joined us for the Summer Institute for Authentic Learning and Leadership, July 9–10, 2025 at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, OH, and together, we turned that promise into reality!


Group of people smiling by a rocket cutout in the Upper Arlington High School hallway. A person takes a photo, and a TV displays text.

Over two energizing days, we celebrated joyful learning, reaffirmed our purpose in designing authentic experiences that engage learners and go beyond academics, and gained fresh ideas in ways we hoped were irresistible! 


Here are some of our favorite moments:


83 presenters inspired us with roughly 100 carefully-planned, theme-based sessions about authentic learning and leadership. 

A smiling woman in a white shirt and orange skirt sits on a desk in a classroom, with a presentation screen and books nearby.

A new leadership strand of sessions highlighted teacher agency, the benefits of removing barriers for teachers and learners, the strategies to mobilize others, and the value of measuring learning beyond academics, with a clear directional system, drawing instructional coaches, department chairs, principals, and other leaders.


Four people performing on stage; one plays guitar, two sing and clap, a child stands nearby. Red curtains backdrop. Audience in foreground.

Educators got a front-row seat to the wonders of the universe in the Star Lab by Imagination Station, sparking curiosity under its immersive, night-sky dome.


We celebrated the arts with musical performances, poetry, and galaxy-like displays of student writing and art that showcased and inspired our creativity!


Woman in a red dress speaking into a microphone on stage with red curtains in the background, smiling and gesturing with her hand.

And the keynotes? They took us beyond the ordinary; they made us feel and care deeply about our own purpose and mission, reminding us of why we became teachers, and fueling our stamina to keep pursuing pedagogy that changes the world!


Simply put, gathering to reflect on authentic learning and leadership, share our teaching journeys with each other, and pursue a new reality in schools made this event out of this world.



Thank you, teachers and leaders, for your passion, devotion to our craft, and commitment to making our profession irresistible. We hope your school year launch is as energized as we all felt at the Institute!

 
 
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