Partnership Launch Events — August 2026A Fresh Lens on Teacher Impact
Join California’s Education Leaders for a Conversation We Can’t Afford to Ignore
Teacher shortages are growing, burnout is rising, and public conversations about education are dominated by statistics, policy debates, and alarming headlines. Those statistics matter, but they rarely help us understand what great teaching actually looks like or why it matters so profoundly to students, families, communities, and our democracy. For that, we need stories.
Stories reveal the human beings behind the numbers. They show us how extraordinary teachers change the trajectory of students' lives, inspire young people to pursue their dreams, strengthen communities, and shape future generations. Yet we rarely hear those stories, and we rarely ask what makes these teachers extraordinary.
This August, Above & Beyond Teaching and Teacher Stories are hosting two invitation-only convenings in Sacramento and Los Angeles, carefully curated gatherings built around real stories, real teachers, and an honest conversation about what great teaching makes possible. Together, we will explore a simple but important question: what can we learn from the teachers who are changing lives every day, and how can those lessons help us strengthen the teaching profession for the future?
SACRAMENTO
Northern California
Thursday, August 13, 2026 · 3:00 PM
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation
1321 Garden Highway, Suite 210
Sacramento, California 95833 MAP
LOS ANGELES
Southern California
Thursday, August 20, 2026 · 3:00 PM
John Palevsky Center
717 W Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 MAP
Why Stories Matter
Statistics help us understand the challenges facing public schools. They tell us how many teachers are leaving the profession, how many positions remain unfilled, and how students are performing. But statistics alone rarely inspire people to act. Stories do.
Stories help us see the human beings behind the numbers. They reveal what great teachers actually do, how they change the trajectory of students' lives, and why their work matters to families, communities, and our democracy.
Statistics tell us what's happening. Stories tell us why it matters.
The Missing Perspective
Despite countless initiatives, one critical question continues to go largely unanswered: what are the extraordinary teachers doing that makes such a profound difference in students' lives, and how do we attract, prepare, support, and retain more teachers like them?
Most conversations about education focus on systems, policies, and programs. This conversation focuses on people.
The Partnership in ActionWatch: What Great Teaching Looks Like
Above & Beyond Teaching and Teacher Stories have already begun documenting the stories that define exceptional teaching in California. This short piece introduces the partnership and the voices at its center.
A FRESH LENS
Teacher Stories and Above & Beyond Teaching invite you to explore a fresh perspective on teacher impact.
Instead of examining education through the lens of policy, politics, and performance metrics, we’ll examine it through the lived experiences of extraordinary teachers and the students whose lives they transformed.
Together, we’ll explore:
What students consistently say makes great teachers different
Why relationships often matter as much as academics
What accomplished educators believe is missing from today’s conversation
How communities can better support and elevate the teaching profession
What we can learn from teachers who continue to make an extraordinary impact
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The future of education will not be shaped by any one organization. It will be shaped by the collective wisdom of educators, researchers, policymakers, journalists, funders, and community leaders who are willing to ask better questions. We believe your voice belongs in that conversation.
You will join a select group of leaders exploring how we can elevate the stories, practices, and values that inspire people to enter and remain in the teaching profession.
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You will leave with a deeper understanding of what extraordinary teachers do differently, new perspectives from educators and students on the front lines, and connections with leaders across education and public life. You will also come away with practical ideas for elevating the teaching profession and an opportunity to help shape future conversations and initiatives. Most importantly, you will have helped advance a conversation that moves beyond headlines and toward a clearer understanding of what great teaching makes possible.
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Attendance is limited. We invite you to join us in Sacramento on August 13 or Los Angeles on August 20 for this important conversation about teacher impact, educational leadership, and the future of the profession. REGISTER TODAY
Teacher Educators
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Policymakers
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Journalists
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Foundation Leaders
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Student Teachers
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Researchers
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Teacher Educators | Policymakers | Journalists | Foundation Leaders | Student Teachers | Researchers |
Featured Voices
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Linda Darling-Hammond (pending)
President, California State Board of Education & Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
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Tracey Williams-Anderson
2023 Above & Beyond Honoree
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Pedro Noguera (pending)
Dean, USC Rossier School of Education
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
These are small, intentional gatherings built around real stories, real teachers, and an honest conversation about what great teaching makes possible.
Space is limited at both events. To attend in Sacramento on August 13 or Los Angeles on August 20, please complete the form below to request an invitation.
Partners in This Work
Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. Presenting sponsors receive prominent event branding, recognition in all communications, and partnership in future content production.
