Connection, Collaboration, and a Strong Start to 2026-27
The 2026-27 school year is officially underway, and we’re excited to welcome our students and families back to Da Vinci!
Our educators and staff kicked off the year by coming together to connect, collaborate, and prepare for another great year of learning, growth, and opportunity with our students.
Professional development began August 3–5 with Incoming Staff Professional Development, welcoming 18 new educators—13 teachers and 5 counselors—to the Da Vinci family. New educators toured all of Da Vinci’s schools and learned about the network’s culture, programs, and support teams, while also gaining practical, hands-on experience to help them hit the ground running.
New teachers participated in teacher-led workshops focused on some of Da Vinci’s signature practices. They jumped into project-based learning by designing their first project, with an emphasis on real-world and career connections and creating opportunities for authentic audiences. They also explored classroom culture, organization, and management; Canvas setup; advisory culture; student digital portfolios; and cross-school collaboration, calibration, and “cross-pollination” to support consistency and shared learning across Da Vinci.
New educators also connected directly with the teams that support students and staff throughout the year. Sessions with the Special Education Team introduced Da Vinci’s models of support, while Student Services 101 provided an overview of key student supports and systems. The Health Team shared wellness practices and responsibilities, helping new staff understand how to support student and staff well-being.
Counselors participated in specialized professional learning covering special education law, McKinney-Vento and foster youth rights, 504 plan management, Care Solace, wraparound and community resources, self-care and healthy boundaries, and collaborative approaches to supporting the whole child.
On August 6, returning teachers came back to campus, joining incoming staff for school-site professional development. Educators spent the day reconnecting with colleagues, collaborating with their teams, and preparing for the year ahead.
The entire Da Vinci community then came together on August 10 for an All-Organization Professional Development Day. The morning began with coffee, connection, and a warm welcome back as staff gathered to celebrate the start of a new school year. Staff heard updates from Dr. Matt Wunder, Da Vinci’s CEO & Superintendent, as well as school leaders from across Da Vinci, before teachers, counselors, and administrators joined job-alike teams to collaborate across sites.
After reconnecting over a taco bar lunch, staff transitioned into school-site professional development, continuing the work of preparing for students’ return on August 17.
Looking Ahead: Our Shared Priorities
As we begin the year, our work is guided by three organization-wide priorities:
Organizational Coherence — Strengthening connections across our schools and programs while building a more aligned and connected Da Vinci.
Data-Guided Practices — Using what we learn to continually improve the experiences, supports, and outcomes of our students.
Long-Term Sustainability — Building the partnerships, resources, and systems that will help Da Vinci thrive for years to come.
Together, these priorities build on the spirit of connection and collaboration that marked the start of the school year and help ensure that we remain focused on what matters most: creating meaningful learning experiences and opportunities for every student.
From new educators learning Da Vinci’s signature practices to returning colleagues sharing expertise and strengthening connections across schools, professional learning throughout the first two weeks of August reflected what makes our organization special: we learn together, support one another, and stay focused on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for every student.
We’re grateful to have our Da Vinci community back together and excited for all that’s ahead in 2026-27!
From new educators learning Da Vinci’s signature practices to returning colleagues sharing expertise and strengthening connections across schools, professional learning throughout the week reflected what makes our organization special: we learn together, support one another, and stay focused on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for every student.
We’re grateful to have our Da Vinci community back together and excited for all that’s ahead in 2026-27!
