There are tens of thousands of educators with children in their classrooms who just want an opportunity to reach their full potential. That is only going to be possible if we give teachers the time, training and technology.

New Albany School District Superintendent Lance Evans says they've hired someone to direct workforce development not for their teachers, but for students.

This week, an advisory panel in New York recommended making the state’s century-old Regents exams optional instead of a graduation requirement. The dramatic change for New Yorkers comes as the dwindling number of states that still require exit exams has become even smaller in recent months and years.

The key to improving student outcomes is helping educators find a comfortable place to start working toward big goals, says Danny Mendez, Indiana's Principal of the Year. "This is the one profession that helps create all the other professions. It's being a storyteller about our kids—who they are, what they need, what they want to be and what their dreams are."