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Key Topics

  • Place-Based Education
  • Learning Models
  • Leadership
  • Education and AI
  • New School Development

Learn more about these specialties.

More Highlights

School Partners Served: 20+

School Networks Launched: 1

School Startups Supported: 7

I’m passionate about our work because:
I believe that every person deserves extraordinary learning experiences which provide a path towards a purposeful life. In order to do this, learning must be personalized and relevant to each learner and deeply connected to meaningful experiences. 

My favorite learning experience is:
Starting from scratch to fix or build anything – like when I learned how to replace the heating element in a water heater and slowly realized that it was going to take much longer than I had anticipated.

My role in three words:
Constructing innovative learning.

I’m currently learning about:
The role of equity in place-based education, competency-based technology solutions, extended transcripts, replicable learning networks, measuring impact, social capital, the role of AI in learning and distributed ledgers. I’m also fascinated by strategy in high-level soccer. Go Chelsea!

I’m currently working on:
Strategic thinking around emerging school networks, codifying learning models and scaling thought leadership and implementation of place-based learning.

Bio

Nate McClennen is Vice-President of Strategy and Innovation at Getting Smart where he supports schools, districts, organizations, foundations, and universities to determine a strategic path forward based on the future of learning. His expertise and interests focus on expanded learning ecosystems, learning networks, technology-enabled personalized learning, project-based learning, real-world learning, purpose making, rural communities, equity, and place-based education. Nate has built two ed-tech solutions, helped found and lead a PK-12 school, served as Head of Innovation for a non-profit, taught math/science at multiple levels, supported multiple school launches, consulted nationally and internationally, and launched a rural-school network over his 25-year career.

Nate lives in Wyoming with his family and spends his free time coaching soccer and exploring the outdoors.  Nate is also the co-author of the book The Power of Place. For more publications by Nate, check out this link.


Recent Stories from Nate McClennen

Nate McClennen has authored many blogs and hosted many podcasts for GettingSmart.com. You can view them all here, or view a preview of the most recent stories below.

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