Our Blog

Spotlight on Innovation: Reflections on GenAI Investments and Trends in Education

Over the last two years, we’ve made over $13 million in commitments to organizations building, scaling, or learning about AI-powered interventions in Pre-K-12 education. To inform how we pursue genAI investments in 2025 and beyond, we analyzed our grantmaking efforts and trends we’re seeing in the broader landscape. Jon Sotsky shares five reflections from this exercise focused on the progress, challenges, and dynamics we’re observing through the efforts of our grantees and others in the field.

Spotlight On Innovation: Strategic Staffing

Jessica Fredston-Hermann sits down with David Rosenberg, a partner at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), for a “Spotlight On Innovation.” Together, they discuss the current state of the teaching profession and how schools and districts across the country are rethinking the traditional “one teacher, one classroom” model with a flexible, team-oriented approach known as strategic staffing.

Spotlight On Innovation: Learn Fresh

In this “Spotlight On Innovation,” Emma Banay talks with Nick Monzi, co-founder and CEO of Learn Fresh. Together, they discuss Learn Fresh’s innovative approach to inspiring STEM interest both in and out of the classroom, how the organization established strong partnerships with professional sports organizations, and the key to training and developing skilled program coordinators to support students’ math learning.

2023 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

Here, we highlight stories of how our funding helped "Cyberchase," Khan Academy, Science Buddies, and Tools of the Mind unlock innovation—developing and launching new approaches, interventions, or models that address unmet needs.

2022 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

In this blog post, we highlight stories of how Overdeck Family Foundation funding has helped CommonLit, Khan Academy, and LENA unlock innovation—developing and launching new approaches, interventions, or models that address unmet needs.

two educators read at the front of the classroom

Perspectives: It’s Time to Rethink the ‘One Teacher, One Classroom’ Model

Stephanie Banchero of The Joyce Foundation and Irene Chen write about why the traditional school staffing model must be reimagined. This challenging moment in education is an opportunity for district and school leaders to embrace innovative, differentiated staffing that creatively utilizes educators and plays to their strengths—positioning schools for long-term success.

How Districts and Out-of-School Time STEM Organizations Partner for Student Success

To support teachers and address Covid learning loss, a multitude of stakeholders and strategies must be leveraged. Uchenna Ezibe explores how afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school time STEM organizations can partner with schools and districts to promote positive academic and social-emotional outcomes for children.

Innovation in Parent & Educator Supports Critical to Early School Success

As we enter our third pandemic year, it’s critical that families and educators have the support they need to ensure that our youngest learners are on the path to early school success. Carly Roberts highlights three grantees that innovated their program models to be shorter, easier to implement, and/or delivered virtually or in a hybrid model, to provide that much-needed support.

2021 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

This blog post explores how three organizations—New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Springboard Collaborative, and EiE—embraced disruptions caused by Covid as an opportunity to fuel innovation.

New Jersey Tutoring Corps Expands to School Year after Successful Summer

The NJ Tutoring Corps, a research-informed, high-dosage, small-group tutoring program created by Overdeck Family Foundation and the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund, will expand to the school year starting in January. The program was launched in summer to tackle COVID-related learning loss and accelerate learning recovery for NJ students.

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