About
Accelerating and Amplifying Innovations in Learning
We explore and highlight innovations in learning to empower all people to build capacity to thrive and steward in a complex and uncertain future.
Getting Smart shapes the future of learning by designing, accelerating and amplifying innovations that help learners thrive in a complex world. As a catalyst for transformative change, we connect leaders across sectors to break down barriers and create bold, student-centered solutions. With decades of experience working with K-12, post-secondary and lifelong learning organizations, we lead the conversation and co-create the future of education through strategic design, advocacy and storytelling.
Our Values
Possibility
We respond optimistically, effectively and quickly to changing needs and events. We spot opportunities and possibilities and often start a question with “How might we..”
Relationships
We maintain transparency in our learning, beliefs and partnerships – and build connections to bring joy and trust to our collective work.
Quality and Excellence
We are proactive and focused on follow-through to do quality work in a mindful way.
Community
We are committed to fostering communities where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead. By creating inclusive spaces, breaking down barriers, and caring for our planet, we work toward a future where all can thrive.
Empathy
We give grace, show compassion and listen deeply to understand different perspectives.
Growth
We celebrate growth and vulnerability; commit time, space, and resources to learn together; and provide honest and authentic feedback.
Equity Statement
Getting Smart is committed to ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive. We believe the most innovative solutions emerge when a range of perspectives come together to create meaningful and lasting change in education.
We recognize the deep and ongoing challenges within our education system, including historical barriers that have limited opportunity for many students. We remain dedicated to supporting schools and organizations in building student-centered learning environments where all young people—regardless of background, identity, or circumstance—have access to high-quality education and the ability to shape their futures.
Our work focuses on expanding access, removing obstacles to success, and amplifying voices that have historically been underrepresented. We collaborate with educators, policymakers, and communities to design systems that empower every student to reach their full potential.
We will uphold our commitment by fostering an inclusive team, partnering with organizations that share our vision for opportunity and fairness, embedding these values in all aspects of our work, and ensuring that all voices and perspectives are represented in our programming and publications.
Sustainability and responsibility to our planet are also central to our mission. We believe that ensuring a healthy, thriving environment is part of creating a just and prosperous future for all. Through partnerships and advocacy, we support efforts that inspire changemaking and a deep connection to place.
We pledge to continue learning, listening, and taking action to build a more just and accessible future for all students.
Our Team
Our team of lifelong learners brings a diverse set of expertise that enables us to be agile and effective. We are a team of past school administrators, educators, business executives, nonprofit leaders and marketing strategists. We approach problems with varied and valuable expertise in order to help education leaders identify, plan and implement the best next step toward serving all learners and serving our planet.
We’re insatiably curious and grow in community, so we tour innovative schools, track innovations in learning and love meeting fellow passionate education disruptors. Inspiring conversations, relationships and experiences fuel the work we do.
Our Process
We are practitioners of design thinking. We start with listening and lead with empathy to identify the core challenge. Together, with your team, we develop a series of services and solutions, specially tailored to your organization and are not a one-size-fits-all firm. In collaboration with our vast network of resources and partners, we design customized, informed, strategic solutions that last.