Innovation and Connection Through Disruption

Cohort 2 expanded VaLIN to 35 school divisions and 30 Lead Innovation Teams, once again representing all eight regions of Virginia. The cohort began in March 2020, just days before Virginia schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. What had been designed as a year of face-to-face collaboration quickly became an opportunity to demonstrate the adaptability, creativity, and networked learning VaLIN was designed to foster.

Teams progressed through a four-phase innovation process—understanding the challenge, designing solutions, taking action, and amplifying successes—while responding simultaneously to rapidly changing local needs. VaLIN moved much of its learning online, creating virtual professional learning experiences, coaching, #VaLINchat, and cross-division “Birds of a Feather” networks. Division projects clustered around five change catalysts: mobilizing the learning community, student-driven learning, real-world challenges, authentic assessment, and caring and connected communities. The experience reinforced an enduring VaLIN idea: meaningful transformation can begin with small steps that lead to big change.