Trends in Education 2026: The Case for Intentional Shifts

Michael Nachbar from Global Online Academy suggests that meaningful change and momentum require intentional structural and cultural shifts. He describes five changes to prioritize for 2026 and how schools can start acting on them this year. Strategies include trusting teachers as intellectual leaders, examining the student experience as a whole, and designing intentionally for real human relationships. 

Additional Research & Resources:

• Feedback That Lands: Using the SBII Framework, Eddyline Coaching

• High-Performing Teams: Staving Off Drift and Leaning Into Hope, Explo Elevate

• How AI Helps Leaders Clarify Their Key Leadership Challenge, Center for Creative Leadership

• Leadership Habits That Shape Safer, Better Schools, Joffe Emergency Services

Addressing the Mental Health Impacts of Bullying and Cyberbullying

Bullying and cyberbullying are significant issues with negative impacts including physical, psychological, or social harm, as well as increased risks of substance use, violence, and suicide. Some research suggests that the impacts of cyberbullying, such as suicidal behavior, depression, and low self-esteem, may be more detrimental than traditional bullying. SchoolSafety.gov offers identification indicators, prevention strategies, and resources for supporting student mental health. 

Additional Research & Resources:

• Beyond the Screen: How Esports is Redefining Student Wellness, Tech & Learning

• Is Flourishing a Fad or the Real Deal?, Education Next

• School Security Trends: Predictions and Aspirations for 2026, Campus Safety

• The Winter Discipline Wave: Why It Happens and What Schools Do, The Deans' Roundtable

Teaching a Generation That Questions Everything

Gen Z expects transparency in exchange for trust. They want to know not only what they’re learning, but how it connects to who they’re becoming. Jeff LeBlanc shares how educators might change their mindset when delivering content and acknowledging short falls. He suggests that this generation wants clarity, fairness, and consistency, but also a sense of humanity behind it all.

Additional Research & Resources:

• 8 Ways I Use Feedback to Drive Student Growth, Middle Web

• Building Trust, Tools, and Curriculum, Trey Education

• Designing Socratic Seminars to Ensure That All Students Can Participate, Spencer Education

• Strengthening Students' Foundational Math Skills in Middle School, Edutopia

Is Your School's Homepage Doing Its Job?

Homepages are critical first impressions that must quickly communicate who the school serves and what makes it distinctive. The story should be clear and consistent. Thrive Hive encourages schools to design for prospective families over internal stakeholders and avoid educational jargon. One suggestion is to read only your homepage headlines and determine if a first-time visitor would understand your school’s value proposition from the first interaction.

Additional Research & Resources:

• 6 Strategies for Schools to Stay Visible as Private School Searches Decline, Truth Tree

• How Planned Giving Relationships Drive Long-Term Generosity, NonProfitPRO

• Resource Marketing Strategies for Small Private Schools, Ravenna Solutions

• What "We Love it Here, But..." Actually Means, DNI Consulting

TransformEd: Teaching & Learning Conference

February 10-11, 2026 | Chattanooga, TN

Explore cutting-edge pedagogical ideas, innovative instructional strategies, and game-changing educational tools designed to drive meaningful impact in the classroom. Through TransformEd, you’ll gain the tools and insights to create transformative learning experiences that inspire student success and a passion for lifelong learning. 

Participants can choose from 24 breakout sessions from among four distinct learning journeys, plus two powerful keynotes from Jared Cooney Horvath and Catlin Tucker.

Upcoming Events:

• Academic Support & Student Well-Being Conference, February 8-10, Chattanooga, TN

• Designing Inclusion: A Mission-Centered Institute, February 11-12, Chattanooga, TN

• Independent School Brand Summit, February 11-12, Chattanooga, TN

• Blueprint Sprint, March 16-17, Orlando, FL

• Blueprint Sprint, April 20-21, Charleston, SC