Doing School Differently: Mead Middle School’s First-Year PBL Journey

In this powerful episode of NTN Unpacked, we head to Houston, Texas, to hear the story of Mead Middle School’s first year partnering with New Tech Network. Principal Jose Lara, Assistant Principal Danielle Johnson, and Director of Transformation Silvia Schiermann join host Mark Stolan and co-host Vincent Manor to reflect on what it takes to launch project-based learning (PBL) in a large, urban middle school - and why it’s worth it.

Despite a hurricane disrupting their NTAC experience and the challenge of integrating PBL with a district-mandated curriculum, the Mead team leaned into collaboration, vulnerability, and student-centered vision. What followed was a culture shift marked by increased student agency, stronger teacher collaboration, and double-digit academic gains.

You’ll hear reflections on:

• Leading as a first-year principal while launching a major instructional shift
  
  
• Supporting teachers to move from “a project” to true project-based learning
  
  
• Merging HQIM curriculum with NTN’s student-centered PBL approach
  
  
• Creating structures like common planning time and a “Creative Lab” to support success
  
  
• Cultivating student and teacher agency through intentional risk-taking and support
  
  

Whether you’re a school leader planning for PBL implementation or a teacher seeking inspiration to try something new, this episode offers a candid and uplifting look at what’s possible when a school community commits to doing school differently.

📌 Bonus resource: Come meet the Mead team in person at NTAC 2025 in Oakland - they’ll be presenting their story and strategies for sustainable transformation.

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