Note to the reader: This post is part of a series using the People, Parts, Interactions  thinking routine from Harvard’s Project Zero . Last week, I wrote about People  as the heart of a learning community . This week, let's zoom in on the Parts . Looking at schools through a “parts” lens helps shift the conversation from “this is a great idea” to “this is actually manageable—and here’s how to do it.” Every school already has a lot of moving parts. The key is to make them vis

Before rearranging desks or schedules, schools exploring learning communities must start with a shared vision. It grounds teachers, aligns decisions, and ensures collaboration centers on students. When educators share responsibility for all learners, every child benefits from multiple perspectives, and the school culture shifts from isolated classrooms to connected, thriving ecosystems.

After nearly two decades in international education, I help schools move from intention to implementation in becoming true learning communities. I work side-by-side with leaders and teacher teams to clarify purpose, build trust, design supportive structures, and turn vision into sustainable practice.