It’s time to reimagine the role of educators and right-size the job so that teachers can support students to meet their academic and social-emotional learning goals. Within our Innovative Schools portfolio, we have observed a strong positive relationship between school culture, teacher retention, and student outcomes. The implications are clear: students thrive when educators thrive. Recent studies also reinforce the significant impact of educator well-being on student success. These impacts are greatest for students furthest from opportunity.

Within our schools portfolio, we have observed a strong positive relationship between school culture, teacher retention, and student outcomes. The implications are clear. Students thrive when educators thrive. Recent international studies also reinforce the significant impact of educator well-being on student success. These impacts are greatest for students furthest from opportunity, including students with learning differences, students of color, and students experiencing poverty.

What We’re Looking For

NewSchools will invest in innovative ideas that evolve how teachers work, engage caregivers and community educators in new school roles, and leverage generative AI to support teachers’ instructional practice:

• Evolve how educators work: Educator-led innovations that reimagine how we organize time and talent in schools

• Surface new roles and talent: Organizations that support schools to engage caregivers and community experts in new school roles

• Leverage generative AI: Generative AI tools co-designed with educators to expand their access to evidence-based content, feedback, and learning

Our goal is to build on existing efforts and catalyze new approaches, making teaching a more sustainable, effective, and joyful profession that attracts a diverse group of educators. We’re especially excited to support ideas from those who understand the problem best — our educators.