💡 How Strong PBL Schools Stay Strong

by Ryan Steuer |  CEO, Magnify Learning

Supporting New Tech Network Schools Beyond the Network

If your school is part of the New Tech Network, then you’re already doing the kind of work we respect deeply — student-centered, real-world learning powered by Project-Based Learning (PBL).

But even for the most experienced PBL schools, one big challenge often comes up:

“How do we sustain this work as our school evolves?”

That’s the question we hear most often from New Tech schools — especially those that were once Demonstration Sites but have since graduated out of the full NTN support structure.

And it’s where Magnify Learning steps in.

🧭 Why Great PBL Schools Still Need Support

Just because a school “gets” PBL doesn’t mean they don’t need help.
In fact, the most innovative schools often face new kinds of challenges as they grow.

We’ve worked with many former New Tech schools and here’s what they tell us:

• “We’ve got strong practices, but we’re struggling to onboard new staff.”
• “We lost a key leader, and now we’re unsure how to stay on track.”
• “We don’t want to drift — we want to deepen.”

These aren’t signs of weakness.

 

They’re signs that your school is maturing — and that it’s time to invest in sustaining what you’ve built.

🔧 The Shift: From Launching to Sustaining PBL

Early on, most schools focus on getting PBL off the ground.

But what happens after you’ve launched?

That’s where many New Tech Network schools find themselves. You’ve got the foundation. You’ve lived the model. But you may now be:

• Training new teachers who weren’t part of the original vision
• Navigating leadership changes or shifting district priorities
• Looking for fresh resources without reinventing the wheel

This is where we come in — not to replace what’s working, but to support what you’ve already started.

✨ 3 Ways We Help Former NTN Schools Thrive

Here’s how we support schools that are already living the PBL vision — but want to keep it alive and thriving:

 

1. PBL Sustainability Planning

We help schools build or update their 3-year PBL roadmap — tailored to their current staff, students, and strategic goals.

Whether you’re growing your team or stabilizing after staff turnover, a clear plan helps everyone stay aligned.

 

2. Leadership + Teacher Coaching

Most schools we support want capacity, not dependency.
That’s why we coach both leaders and teacher teams — so the culture doesn’t rely on just one person.

We train teacher leaders to lead the work from within and help administrators maintain the vision.

 

3. Resources for Your Evolving Team

We offer tools to help your team answer questions like:

• “What is PBL?” — for new teachers, parents, and students
• “How do we train a new team member mid-year?”
• “Where can we get high quality PBL resources?”

WhatisPBL.com gives free resources for both administrators and teachers. Many schools even link to it on their website to help explain PBL to their community.

 

The PBL Movement Online Community is a paid yearly service providing courses, resources, and in-person summer workshops for your whole school. 

👥 You’re Not Alone

We’re already working with several former New Tech Demo Sites that are:

• Training new teams
• Hosting regional PBL events
• Sustaining high-quality work after network support has ended

You’re part of a growing group of schools that don’t just launch PBL — they live it, evolve with it, and lead others.

📣 Upcoming Support Opportunities

We’ve got several free support opportunities for schools like yours:

• 🎓 Live Webinars: Customized to your context→ PBLWebinar.com
• 🛠️ Nationwide PBL Networks: Join other educators tackling current education innovation issues → PBLNetworks.com
• 💬 1:1 Strategy Sessions: Let’s talk about your current needs → CallMagnify.com

💬 Final Thoughts

If you’re part of a New Tech Network school — or a school that once was — and you’re now leading the work independently…

Know this: you don’t have to go it alone.

You’ve already done the hard work of launching a student-centered, PBL-driven school.
Now, we want to help you keep that culture strong, fresh, and sustainable — for the long haul.

Let’s talk.
Whether you join a PBL network,  workshop, attend a webinar, or just want to brainstorm ideas, we’d love to connect.