Overwhelmed by Student-Centered Program Design? Start with Story and Stakeholders

Ever been handed a blank sheet of paper to design your dream school—but felt totally overwhelmed by where to begin?

You're not alone.

This episode kicks off a special monthly series airing in the final week of each month on Building Student-Centered Schools Building Student-Centered Schools, where I take you behind the scenes of a real program I’m helping launch in Hong Kong. Each month, we’ll unpack a core design element—from staffing to space to schedule—starting with “S.”

In this first episode, we explore the power of story—and how engaging your stakeholders early on can turn uncertainty into clarity. I share how we co-created a shared vision with students, parents, and staff to lay the foundation for a truly student-centered experience.

You’ll learn how to:

🔹 Gather authentic input from your community to build ownership 🔹 Create clear value statements that guide every design decision 🔹 Use “vision visits” and focus groups to surface what your community truly cares about 🔹 Develop a simple, powerful school mission rooted in real-world relevance

If you’re launching or reimagining a student-centered program, this episode will give you the clarity and momentum to move forward—with your people at the center.

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard 

Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713