"In my experience as an educator and leader, I''ve seen bold visions for educational change fall short when the community is not part of the solution. That is what makes this book so important: it shares lessons about how communities come together to make lasting, meaningful change so every student has the ability to succeed." --Kaya Henderson, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools "The future of public education depends upon communities coming together to learn, envision, and develop approaches that truly put learners at the center. As a leader with decades of experience in public schools, I have witnessed firsthand the powerful impact of Transcend''s work. Transcend is my "go-to" organization for innovative thought-leadership, and I am thrilled that their approach is now captured in this book. It''s essential reading for leaders at every level of the system who care about ensuring that ALL young people thrive in the 21st century." --Susana Córdova, Colorado Education Commissioner "As a system leader driving innovation and transformation across multiple districts, I saw the profound power of community-based design. This book offers you inspiring stories of real districts doing this work combined with practical tools and insights that you and your community can implement immediately.

This is required reading for any system looking to move beyond the industrial model towards one that truly unlocks the potential of each and every learner." --Christine Fowler Mack, Former Superintendent of Akron Public Schools "At a moment in American history when the clarion call to help "all children" has morphed into a rhetorical placeholder for polite conversations between legislators, researchers, and philanthropists, this book breaks through fashionable clichés and decades-old misconceptions about what it takes to a create a meaningful learning environment for urban and rural communities. By utilizing a school design framework, the authors provide a smart mix of science- and professional-based practices we must consider to truly place a premium on supporting principals, teachers, students, and families." --Gerard Robinson, Former Secretary of Education in Virginia and Florida Education Commissioner "If our transformation journey in Lindsay Unified has taught us one thing, it would be that engaging the community in a design process with learners at the center matters deeply. Transcend has played a pivotal role for years as a key partner in our journey, and I''m thrilled that this book will enable far more communities to benefit from Transcend''s insights and actionable tools. If you are a leader looking to put your learners first, this book is for you." --Tom Rooney, Superintendent, Lindsay Unified School District "Systems produce the outcomes they''re designed to produce. That''s a truism when it comes to our schools, but fortunately Jeff, Aylon, and Jenee offer us a roadmap to reinvention so that all students can thrive through a robust and practical design process with inspiring real-life examples of educators doing the work.

It''s time to design our way to success for all!" --Michael Horn, Author of From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)creating School for Every Child "Too often, our field looks for silver bullets that do not exist. This book doesn''t fall into that trap. Rather, it shares practical methods and powerful examples of communities coming together to imagine and build a promising future for public education. The book expresses wisdom that Transcend has accumulated by working with hundreds of school systems across the country. I hope it spreads far and wide, so innovators know they are not alone!" --LaVerne Srinivasan, Vice President, National Program, and Program Director, Education, Carnegie Corporation.