A LeARner’s Perspective: A Look into What Comes Next
For educators, the day can sometimes feel like it is never really over. There is almost always a team meeting to arrange, homework to grade or lessons to plan. It can be hard to tackle it all, especially when the to-do list often keeps growing. For Mindy Bowlin, long-time educator and Forward program fellow and consultant, it was yet another email—one she “fortunately happened to spot” in her crowded inbox—that led her to the LeARner Collective. It was her sixth year as the principal of Pea Ridge Intermediate School (PRIS), and Mindy applied immediately.
The following spring, Mindy and the PRIS team entered Phase I of the LeARner Collective, attending regional gatherings, participating in unique professional learning experiences and receiving expert personalized coaching from 2Revolutions and Forward to deploy pilot solutions to help “create conditions for student success.” For Phase II, during the 2024-2025 school year, PRIS and its fellow LeARner Collective members expanded and scaled innovative solutions through two distinct pathways: schoolwide transformation, which PRIS joined, or continuation. In May, the schools came together once again for a Celebration of Learning.
“Being in education for more than 20 years, you get used to ‘coaches’ dropping off professional development materials each year. The LeARner Collective was different from the jump. At our collective gatherings, educators had the chance to really talk to one another, participate in reflective activities to track progress, and share best practices as successes. Having a coach who is personally invested in your school and can serve as a trusted thought partner was huge. It’s that innovative mindset and consistent level of support that we want to capture as we move forward with the LeARner Collective.”
So, what’s next? First up: site visits to LeARner Collective transformation schools. With support from Mindy and Meghan Thompson, Forward’s director of programs, teachers, administrators and external partners will soon have the chance to witness the LeARner Collective’s impact in action, exploring best practices they may consider adopting. To further expand the program’s reach, Mindy said Forward will also unveil an opportunity this fall for interested stakeholders—both within and outside the education field—to hear and learn from LeARner Collective leaders. They will present this expertise in an “easy-to-follow, digestible format,” including guidance on how to harness innovative strategies to reimagine learning that fits the needs of participants’ individual schools, districts and communities.
“The LeARner Collective is an avenue for school teams to implement changes when they’re open, willing and ready for transformation,” said Mindy. “We’re excited to invite others to ‘LeARn with Us,’ and help guide them in replicating and localizing the success our partner schools experienced in Phases I and II. Once you experience the LeARner Collective, there’s no doubt about its longevity and value. I can’t wait to see how it continues to grow.”
Find out more about the LeARner Collective here. Want to get in touch with Mindy to stay informed about the LeARner Collective’s next steps? Email mbowlin@forwardarkansas.org.
