.png){kind=logo}
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Schools That Can has long sought to be a resource for thoughtful, interactive conversations in the K-12 education space, since our first National Forum in 2006. From in-person gatherings hosted in New York City, Pittsburgh, and Chicago to virtual events that bring together educators around the world, we're dedicated to uplifting thought leaders, sharing best practices, and creating space for conversation and collaboration through our community engagement initiatives.
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Education Awards & STC Leaders That Can Awards
Each year for the past decade, Schools That Can and The Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center come together to celebrate and uplift the incredible school leaders, teachers, and students throughout STC's network with the Senator Robert F. Kennedy Education Awards. These awards are grounded in Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s vision of a more just, peaceful world. They celebrate those who have demonstrated moral courage and commitment to bettering their school communities.
Schools That Can has also hosted the Leaders That Can Awards since 2017. Designed to recognize exceptional individuals for their leadership, in 2026, STC honored Kerry Kennedy and Nichol King.
The Schools That Can Forum
Started in 2006, the Schools That Can Forum is an annual, public conference that brings together top educators from STC schools, innovative educational organizations, thought leaders, industry, and the community. Since 2014, we have presented the RFK Education Awards in partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. These awards celebrate school leaders, educators, and students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their communities and schools.
Since 2020, the Schools That Can Forum has been hosted virtually in an effort to expand accessibility to educators across the country and around the world. That has included free, virtual Ed Chats on topics including Education in the Age of AI, How Career Readiness Changes High School Culture, Education Equity Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, and more.
STC Study Groups
STC’s Study Groups bring together outstanding leaders in small cohorts to share ideas and explore problem-solving solutions to challenges in K-12 public education. STC provides a platform for diverse leader discourse and a methodology to sustain engagement. Currently, study groups include the following:
-
School Leaders: school leaders from different schools and cities who have won STC's Robert F. Kennedy Education School Leader Award, collaborating to discuss changes, challenges, and future goals for K-12 education.
-
University Provosts from four universities (private, state, city and national virtual) share ideas and practices around changes to higher education and the workforce.
-
Thought Leaders including four university presidents and four education and community leaders share ideas and thoughts concerning the current status of public education.
