Desert Sands USD Superintendent Scott Bailey draws on acting chops and farming background to drive district success. One of his guiding philosophies is to find ways to make his district stand out.

School administrators now allow student-athletes with concussions to take days, weeks or even months to recuperate. In addition, athletic associations have implemented rule changes to lower the likelihood of head trauma.

Jo Ann Matthews now serves the Louisiana DOE; Superintendent Barbara J. Case adds co-teaching to New York district's strategic plan; Principal James Carrick implements PBIS at Arizona middle school; and under Superintendent Raymond Sanchez's leadership, a New York district wins awards.

Augmented reality and virtual reality tools enable students to interact with content in ways that traditional tools such as textbooks and videos cannot provide, says STEAM teacher Rachelle Dene Poth.