What School Could Be
Spotlight on
Michigan
Bold Educators. Remarkable Initiatives.
Educators in Michigan's public schools are pioneering remarkable initiatives that equip students with essential skills and mindsets. Counter to the myth that public schools can't innovate, these bold educators are leading the way, helping build better futures for kids and communities across the state.
As artificial intelligence reshapes our world, every Michigan school needs to innovate, drawing inspiration and insight from current bright spots. This pursuit of informed innovation raises fundamental issues. What is the purpose of school? What learning challenges genuinely prepare kids for purposeful lives in a rapidly-changing world? Which accountability frameworks foster essential competencies? How can today’s group collaborate to make Michigan the global education leader?
Explore The Innovations
Check out the videos below to go deeper into each innovation's remarkable story.
Sault Area High School: Contextual Mathematics
Pairing geometry and algebra with hands-on construction, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
Genesee ISD, Genesee Career Institute: Genesee Institute Fire Academy
Created in response to a shortage of firefighters in the community, The Fire Academy trains students for a career in firefighting.
Northwest Education Services Career Tech: The Engineering Academy
A nationally-recognized STEM program that pairs rigorous hands-on learning with real-world experience and mentorship.
Ingham ISD, Wilson Talent Center: AI and Me
A student-driven pilot project exploring the implications AI will have on our lives and careers.
Genesee ISD, Career Tech: Youth Entrepreneurship Program
Students develop entrepreneurial mindsets as they create and pitch ideas in a "Shark Tank" competition.
SME: PRIME: A Custom Manufacturing Education
Partnering private industry with high schools to build custom manufacturing classes in which students acquire skills and certifications that community employers need.
The Marygrove Learning Community: A Detroit P-20 Partnership
The Marygrove Learning Community, a Detroit P-20 Partnership, is a one-of-its kind education program that offers a holistic learning experience for students and early-career teachers from before birth through postsecondary education and career, with a focus on design-thinking, engineering, and social justice.
Saline Area Schools: Connecting
Students learn about disabilities and job shadow as paraeducators, working with people with disabilities across the district.
Northville Public Schools: District-wide K-12 Relational/Restorative Practices
Practices that build community bonds and equip kids with problem-solving skills.
Listen
Hear directly from some of these incredible educators on the What School Could Be podcast!
Episode 132: Theresa Tate, Fierce Advocate For All Learners
Theresa Tate’s students consistently describe her Innovative Learning Center as “family,” expressing reluctance to leave this nurturing space she has created upon their graduation. She is a fierce advocate for disabled and neurodivergent students dedicated to building a more inclusive future
