Learning Heroes

08/19/2026

Community voting for SXSW EDU 2027 ends this Sun., Aug. 23! Learning Heroes (US) and TalkingPoints want to host two discussions on accelerating student outcomes in reading, math, and attendance through the power of families voices + AI + edtech. Click the ❤️ to vote for our two sessions!
https://hubs.la/Q04s7x7c0 and https://bit.ly/4fLMJZ1

SXSW EDU

08/05/2026

📢 Today’s the day! Join us at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET for Create Community in the Fall, the third webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series.

Learn how districts, schools and communities can:

Build trusted relationships among staff, students and families
Foster a sense of belonging from the start of the year
Promote healthy habits, learning and long-term success
Engage the entire school community in supporting attendance

🔗 Join here: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/webinars/

08/02/2026

Join us and start the school year strong!

💬Join us, the Institute for Educational Leadership and the campaign partners on Wednesday, August 5, from 12-1:30 p.m. PT / 3-4:30 p.m. ET for the third webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series: Create Community in the Fall.
🔗 Register: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/webinars/
Building a strong school community and a culture of attendance starts in the fall. By intentionally fostering belonging, communicating proactively with families and creating opportunities for students to thrive, schools lay the foundation for strong attendance, student well-being and academic success throughout the year.
In this free webinar, panelists will explore strategies for:
Establishing trusted relationships among staff, students and families
Promoting students’ healthy habits, learning and long-term success
Engaging the entire school community
📢 Don’t miss this free event.
Confirmed speakers:
▪️ Laura Thieman, Senior Manager, Student Attendance & Engagement, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
▪️ Ileana Rios, Dean, Falls Church High School, Fairfax, VA
▪️ Maria Martin, Dean, Falls Church High School, Fairfax, VA
▪️ Luis Murillo, Assistant Superintendent, Alamosa School District, CO
▪️ Scott Aldridge, Assistant Principal, Alamosa Elementary K-2, Alamosa, CO
▪️ Kwesi Rollins, Interim President, Institute for Educational Leadership
▪️ Elliott Attisha, Senior Fellow for Health, Attendance Works
▪️ Hedy Chang, CEO and President, Attendance Works
🔗 Register: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/webinars/


Campaign for Grade-Level Reading | Communities In Schools | Everyone Graduates Center | | Healthy Schools Campaign | Learning Heroes | MENTOR | National League of Cities | United Way | Institute for Educational Leadership

07/27/2026

Join us for the webinar tomorrow ⬇️

From July 27–31, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will once again host GLR Week, our annual virtual conference. Register below to join for one session or all eight! If you can't attend in real time, you'll get the recording during the first week in August. Thank you! Monday July 27, 12:30–2p...

07/23/2026

When does student retention help? When does it harm?

How can states craft policies that put student progress, not a single test score, at the center?

More than two dozen states now allow or require retention for students who aren’t reading proficiently by the end of third grade, even as others reconsider or roll back those requirements.

Join our Windy Lopez-Aflitto, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, and additional panelists as we revisit the issue of retention with state leaders at very different stages of designing, implementing, and refining their reading policies.

Attendees will hear what’s working, what hasn’t worked, and how states are pairing accountability with the interventions — high-quality instruction, tutoring, summer learning, and family engagement — that determine whether a policy actually helps children read.

Promotion, Retention, and What Works: State Third-Grade Reading Policies
July 28 | 12:30 p.m. ET

Learn more here ➡️ https://leo.gradelevelreading.net/state-third-grade-reading-policies
Register here ➡️ https://leo.gradelevelreading.net/Register-for-GLR-Week

From July 27–31, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will once again host GLR Week, our annual virtual conference. Register below to join for one session or all eight! If you can't attend in real time, you'll get the recording during the first week in August. Thank you! Monday July 27, 12:30–2p...

06/09/2026

We're excited to share the story of our long-time partner Jean-Claude Brizzard of Digital Promise, who has selflessly lifted up opportunity for students and families across the country. His visionary leadership on the future of education is laying the foundation for students to flourish today and tomorrow. Carnegie Corporation of New York

Jean-Claude Brizard‘s first job in education* was teaching prisoners at Rikers Island. This prompted him to start thinking about how education might be able to stop the flow of kids into prisons. Born in Haiti, Brizard was raised by his grandmother after his parents fled the dictatorship of Presid...

06/08/2026

We're excited to share that Learning Heroes President David Park has been selected to join Harmony Labs' inaugural Narrative R&D Lab Community of Practice.

This cohort brings together leaders from across sectors to explore how narrative strategies can help organizations better engage communities, build trust, and drive meaningful change. Through this collaborative learning experience, participants will test new approaches, share insights, and contribute to the growing field of narrative research and practice.

At Learning Heroes, we know that helping families navigate their children's education starts with clear, trusted communication. We're proud to see David contribute his expertise to this important work and look forward to applying new learnings that strengthen our ability to support families and communities nationwide.

Learn more: https://harmonylabs.org/news/lab-community-of-practice

05/21/2026

Families are essential partners in student learning. In a new article for Principal Magazine by National Association of Elementary School Principals, Windy Lopez-Aflitto shares why strong school-home partnerships matter and how schools can build more meaningful relationships with families to support student success. The article highlights the importance of trust, clear communication, and helping families better understand how their child is really doing academically.

Read the full article here: https://www.naesp.org/resource/the-power-of-school-home-partnerships/

05/05/2026

We're excited to share that our CEO & Founder Bibb Hubbard will be joining Keri Rodrigues (National Parents Union), Maribel Gardea (MindshiftED), & Trenace Dorsey-Hollins (Parent Shield Fort Worth) at for the session, “Beyond Voice: When Parents Shape the System.”

They'll explore what families are actually looking for in their children’s learning experiences and what happens when parents are not just consulted, but engaged in the design of the next generation of learning opportunities.

This year’s theme is Build What’s Next, and we're glad to be part of a conversation focused on creating learning experiences that are more relevant, responsive, and future-ready. If you’ll be at Summit, come join us!

🗓️: May 7, 2026
🕛: 1:20pm - 2:20pm PT

Learn more: https://www.newschools.org/summit/schedule/

05/04/2026

During Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re recognizing the educators who show up for students and families every single day.

Teachers are doing more than delivering lessons. They’re building relationships, navigating challenges, and helping students stay on track in a moment when learning recovery and engagement matter more than ever.

We know that strong family-school partnerships make a real difference. When teachers and families work together, students are more likely to attend school regularly, stay engaged, and succeed academically.

To every teacher supporting not just students, but entire families: thank you.

Let’s continue working together to ensure every child has the support they need to thrive.