How can educator teams ensure students get rigorous learning opportunities tailored to their interests, strengths and needs? This educator team at Kyrene de las Manitas Innovation Academy in Tempe, Arizona creates an inclusive environment and offers students choice in what, how and where they learn. They prioritize building relationships with learners and group and regroup students intentionally.

About Kyrene de las Manitas Innovation Academy

• Kyrene School District in Tempe, Arizona

• ~450 students in grades PK–8

• Launched team-based models in 2019

• Learn more: Dynamic student groupings at Kyrene de las Manitas

How do team-based models help educators personalize student learning? At Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona, members of this educator team take the time to get to know learners as individuals — their interests, passions, strengths and needs. Then they leverage their understanding of students to flex both the schedule and student groupings to ensure each learner gets what they need to be successful.

About Westwood High School

• Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona

• 3,500 students in grades 9–12

• Launched team-based models in 2018

How can educator teams tailor learning for each individual student? At Stevenson Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona, teams of educators invest time in getting to know each student personally – from their unique interests and passions to their strengths and areas for growth. With this insight, teams dynamically adjust student groupings over the course of the day to ensure each learner gets what they need to be successful.

About Stevenson Elementary School

• Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona

• ~720 students in grades PK6

• Launched team-based models in 2020