Power of Place

PoP Book Club: True Biz - A Novel (Session 1)
2026-03-30 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom (register for link)
Join our next book club community read to explore True Biz: A Novel, written by Sara Novic. This book, recommended by ECLC community member and Lynn educator Heather Lang, is set at a fictional residential school for the Deaf. The story follows students and a teacher as they navigate personal challenges and the Deaf community’s political landscape, exploring themes of language, identity, love, and civil rights.
Join us on Zoom to discuss the book over two sessions: We will discuss the first half on March 30, and the second half on April 27.
Learn more and register here.

Arts Educators Learning Journey: Creating an Art-Inspiring Space
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join the Arts Educators Learning Journey
REGISTER HERE
Power of Place and the Peabody Essex Museum share a strong belief in the transformative power of the arts to enhance young people’s mental well-being and engage them deeply in their learning. We want to harness the wealth of talent and creativity in our region to create a unique, comprehensive, and engaging professional learning journey for all arts educators, including theater, visual, music and dance. The objectives for this series will be to:

Cultivate a vibrant community and network of Essex County’s arts educators where collaboration, creativity, and shared vision fuel personal and collective growth.

Ignite powerful teaching and learning in the arts by sharing and exploring innovative strategies, inclusive practices, and new ways to engage every student.

Connect classrooms to communities by empowering students, engaging families, and weaving art into the fabric of public and shared spaces.

Celebrate creativity by showcasing student and educator artistry, reflecting on our journey, and envisioning a path forward together.

Our first session will focus on what it means to create an “Art-Inspiring” space. Participants will discuss what “art” means in their shared practice and explore how learning environments can spark creativity. All participants will be encouraged to bring and share artifacts, classroom photos, and short videos that showcase how they design inspiring spaces, then use collaborative protocols like gallery walks and small-group reflections to uncover themes, fresh ideas, and key takeaways. The session will also include a behind-the-scenes tour of curatorial and studio spaces at the PEM for added inspiration.
Please complete this short form to RSVP for our upcoming sessions.
Note that participants will be eligible for PDPs, and that childcare will be provided. Please reach out to Heidi Guarino at heidi@edlabstrategies.com with any questions.

Submit an Educator Spotlight Video!
2026-04-17
In preparation for Teacher Appreciation Week, Power of Place is planning a social media campaign to celebrate all of the incredible educators who move our mission forward. Your stories – and voices – are an important piece of this campaign, so we want to from you directly.
To participate, please send us a selfie-style video in which you introduce yourself, your role and tell us what you love most about being an educator. We will share all of these videos on our social media channels throughout May.
Before recording, keep a few things in mind:

Film in a quiet, well-lit location without any distractions behind you, ideally in a space that relates to the story you are trying to tell (Examples: at your desk in your classroom or in your office).
Record selfie style (holding the phone rather than having someone else hold it for you). The video should be filmed vertically.
Make sure to rephrase the question back in your answer.

To participate, please upload your submission here no later than Friday, April 17. If you have issues or questions, please email Jess Silva-Hodges at jhodges@melwoodglobal.com.
Thank you in advance for sharing your stories with us!

PoP Book Club: True Biz - A Novel (Session 2)
2026-04-27 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Join our next book club community read to explore True Biz: A Novel, written by Sara Novic. This book, recommended by ECLC community member and Lynn educator Heather Lang, is set at a fictional residential school for the Deaf. The story follows students and a teacher as they navigate personal challenges and the Deaf community’s political landscape, exploring themes of language, identity, love, and civil rights.
Join us on Zoom on April 27 to discuss the second half of the book.
Learn more and register here.

ECLC Spring Showcase of Learning
2026-05-13 16:30 - 19:30 | Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem, MA, 01970, United States
RSVP today to join us!
Join us for the 2026 Showcase of Learning, an evening celebration of all that Essex County Learning Community educators have achieved over the past academic year. This year’s Showcase will feature:

17 display tables hosted by ECLC educators
Remarks from Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez
Remarks from the 2026 MA Teacher of the Year Dr. Tara Goodhue
A performance from Danvers High School’s student a capella group, Vocal Alliance
An interactive community art exhibit
Food, drink, and more!

All are welcome to join us for this annual “science fair meets cocktail party-style” celebration of of our educators and our community! Here are the details:

When: May 13 from 4:30-7:30 pm
Where: Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
RSVP: tinyurl.com/2026ShowcaseofLearning

We hope to see you there!

Facilitation Leadership Academy Deadline to Register
2026-06-15 | tinyurl.com/PoPAcademy26
PoP’s new Facilitation Leadership Academy will prepare educators to facilitate meaningful adult learning experiences designed to prompt innovation and reflection. This multi-part series will prepare participants to lead professional learning for their peers that focused on achieving equitable outcomes for students.
All participants will have the opportunity to:

Practice using tools of effective facilitation with their peers from across Massachusetts
Participate in a mix of remote and asynchronous sessions through Fall 2026, starting with an in-person retreat at Fitchburg State University on August 11.
Earn PDPs, graduate credits and/or microcredentials for completion
Gain access to an online library of high quality facilitation tools and resources

Our funders have generously offered to cover 50 percent of the per person cost, reducing the price to just $375 per participant. Discounts are also available for district teams of 3 or more.
Register for the Academy by the June 15 deadline to secure your spot! Reach out to Diana Lebeaux at dlebeaux@powerofplacelc.org to learn more.

Facilitation Leadership Academy: Registration Deadline
2026-07-15
Register here
Power of Place Learning Communities is excited to launch the inaugural cohort of our new Learn to Lead: Facilitation Leadership Academy, a professional learning opportunity designed for educators who want to strengthen their facilitation and collaborative leadership skills. (Learn more and review the full curriculum here).
This academy will support educators in developing the tools, practices, and confidence needed to lead meaningful adult learning experiences focused on equitable outcomes for students. Participants will explore strategies for facilitating strong Professional Learning Communities, department teams, leadership groups, committees, and professional development experiences.
This opportunity may be a strong fit for educators who are:

Interested in moving into educational leadership roles
Facilitating PLCs, CFGs, or collaborative teams
Leading committees, design teams, or instructional leadership work
Interested in strengthening facilitation practices for adult learning

Participants will:

Practice using facilitation tools and protocols
Learn strategies for equitable and effective group leadership
Engage in collaborative reflection and inquiry with peers
Receive a digital facilitation toolkit
Earn PDPs and a certificate of completion
Optionally pursue graduate credit through Fitchburg State University and/or a facilitation microcredential

Program Schedule Includes:

One online kickoff session

July 28, 1:00–3:30 p.m. OR
August 6, 9:00–11:30 a.m.

An in-person retreat at Fitchburg State University on August 11, 2026
Monthly hourlong PLC meetings during Fall 2026
Applied facilitation and reflection work in participants’ school settings

Cost:
$375 per participant. Discounts are available for district teams of three or more participants.

2026 ECLC Summer Institute: Be Who They Need - Cultivating Care, Connection, and Student Agency
2026-07-30 | TBD
July 30 ECLC Summer Institute: Be Who They Need: Cultivating Care, Connection, and Student Agency
Register here
Great schools are built on strong relationships—and the adults who choose to show up with intention, clarity, and care. ECLC’s 2026 Summer Institute expands on the call to “be who youth need,” exploring how educators can build trust, maintain healthy boundaries, and create conditions where students feel both supported and empowered.
Participants will examine what it means to be a “trusted adult” and how collective responsibility strengthens impact. Breakout sessions extend this work into practice—unpacking the language and expression of care, designing teen-centered learning experiences that foster true agency, and reimagining learning as a deeply human, relational process.
Through a dynamic keynote featuring One Trusted Adult author Brooklyn Raney, and choice-based workshops featuring other experts including iThrive Games Executive Director Susan Rivers, participants will explore how strong relationships serve as the foundation for student success, how intentional expressions of care shape school culture, and how shifting ownership to students fosters independence and purpose.
From neuroscience-informed design to hands-on creation of learner-centered experiences, this institute offers both vision and actionable strategies for building environments where students—and educators—can thrive.
Learning Objectives – Participants will leave prepared to:

Analyze the role of relationships in student development by examining research-based practices for building trust, maintaining healthy boundaries, and functioning effectively as a “trusted adult” within a broader support network.
Apply a shared framework for expressing care by identifying and practicing the four domains—encouragement, accountability, affirmation, and advisement—to strengthen student engagement and school culture.
Design learning experiences that foster student agency by shifting from adult-directed instruction to structures that promote autonomy, self-reflection, and ownership of learning.
Integrate human-centered learning principles into practice by leveraging connection, collaboration, and real-world relevance to create more engaging, inclusive, and meaningful learning environments.

Register here.
