Teachers Are Powerful—And They Belong at the Center of Learning
After more than two decades supporting K-6 educators and students, Learning A-Z® is unveiling a new brand identity. But this rebrand isn’t about changing what we do—it’s about better reflecting what we believe and how we deliver value for teachers, students, and school leaders.
At a time when the education landscape is shifting rapidly, we want to be unmistakably clear about our purpose: We help teachers shine so students can grow.
To bring that to life, our rebrand is anchored in four key principles that teachers have told us matter most to them—and these beliefs guide everything we do:
- Teachers are powerful.
- Practical is powerful.
- Research is powerful.
- Joy is powerful.
Over the coming days, I’ll share my thoughts on each one. But let’s start with the first—because it’s the heartbeat of who we are and why we exist.
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The Greatest Equalizer in Education. The Teacher.
No matter where students come from—what their family life looks like, how strong their reading foundation is, or what their neighborhood offers—one factor consistently makes the biggest difference in their learning: the teacher.
As the RAND Corporation found1, “When it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, teachers are estimated to have two to three times the effect of any other school factor.” That includes services, facilities, and even leadership.
That’s why I often say teachers are the great equalizers in the classroom. When we empower teachers to use their craft well, we help every student gain access to education that can change their lives.
In other words, when we support teachers, their impact grows even greater.
What Does Real Support Look Like?
Supporting teachers is about recognizing that most core curricula are designed to reach the middle of the class. Teachers, on the other hand, are trying to reach the students at the edges as well—to support every learner, whether they’re just getting started or ready for deeper exploration.
A well-supported teacher has the resources, flexibility, and confidence to teach across that full spectrum. That means:
- Tools that fit naturally into whole-class, small-group, and independent work
- Resources that build background knowledge and encourage student choice
- Thoughtfully designed materials that are easy to find, easy to adapt, and easy to use
- Professional learning that respects their expertise and supports continued growth
- The trust to use their judgment—because experience matters, and so does fresh perspective
Whether they’re new to the classroom or have 20 years behind them, teachers should have both the resources and the support to do what they know works best.
Putting Teachers at the Center
In recent years, the role of the teacher has only grown more complex. Today’s educators are expected to be experts in in-person and virtual instruction, academic content, social-emotional support, and more. And they show up—every day—for their students.
That’s why we believe in something simple but often overlooked: technology should lift up teachers, not overshadow them.
The most effective learning happens when technology strengthens a teacher’s ability to build relationships, spark curiosity, and guide discovery.
We’ve seen firsthand how empowering educators with thoughtful tools, targeted content, and a sense of ownership can transform not just classrooms but entire learning communities.
Because when teachers feel seen, valued, and supported … their students shine.
Why Background Knowledge Matters More Than Ever
We’re seeing a clear shift in how learning happens in today’s classrooms. Surface-level learning is giving way to conversation, curiosity, and connection. More than ever, teachers are focused on helping students build background knowledge—the essential context that helps new ideas stick.
This is not something technology can do on its own. It takes a teacher’s insight and intentionality to connect content to lived experience, introduce new concepts in the right order, and help students access a wide array of texts.
Great teachers help students build the knowledge they need to access more complex texts, understand the world around them, and develop deeper comprehension that lasts. Whether it’s teaching about community leaders, plant cycles, or planets, they know when and how to introduce key ideas that make learning meaningful.
When we give teachers the resources to build background knowledge effectively—and the flexibility to choose the right path for each learner—we give students the foundation for lifelong learning.
Stay Tuned
We’ll be diving deeper into our remaining pillars in the next few posts to show you:
- How practical tools drive real progress
- Why we need to continually act on proven research as it evolves
- And why joy is more than a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential to lifelong learning
Let’s keep putting teachers at the center—where they’ve always belonged. Great teachers don’t just deliver instruction—they deliver opportunity.
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