Locally Led R&D at Summit Public Schools: Lessons in Innovation

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I talk with Greg Ponikvar and Dan Effland from Summit Public Schools about their journey with locally led research and development (R&D). We explore how Summit designs, pilots, and scales new efforts, what’s changed in their approach over time, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. We also dive into some of the simple but powerful steps that support the process, like developing an R&D plan, creating protected time, and regularly reflecting on what went well and what could be improved, as well as how these practices show up in daily activities. Whether you’re a school or district leader, or simply curious about how R&D can drive meaningful change in education, this conversation offers practical insights into building sustainable, locally driven innovation.