Open Way Learning and the Human Restoration Project are helping Michigan middle schools build student agency through interdisciplinary PBL, portfolio-based assessment, teacher collaboration, and sustained coaching. Early results point to stronger engagement, belonging, and student well-being as the Third Coast Learning Collaborative continues to grow.
How do schools move from one exceptional teacher to a culture of great teaching across the entire building? This article explores how school leaders can use experiential learning, lesson study, continuous improvement, and collaborative practice to spread innovation from the inside out—without relying on top-down mandates. Grounded in research on collective efficacy and real-world school change, it offers practical strategies for scaling engagement, collaboration, and learner-
