Back to School 2026: Generate Excellence Together

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, I find myself reflecting on what has remained constant throughout the more than 25-year journey of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) – and what must continue to evolve if we are to meet the needs of today's educators and the students they serve.

The world around us changes. Technology changes. Education changes. Expectations continue to evolve.

But one thing does not – our commitment to building educator excellence to give all students the opportunity for success.

That commitment anchors everything we do. This year, NIET’s work will be guided by three simple but powerful principles:

1. Anchor to our core.
2. Innovate to improve.
3. Multiply the opportunity for students.

Together, these ideas capture how we will continue to generate excellence working alongside educators across the country.

Anchor to Our Core

If we want to generate excellence for more students, we must remain firmly anchored in our mission and vision, the core elements of our signature initiative – the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement – and the foundational beliefs that have defined NIET from the beginning.

We know lasting improvement happens when educators are supported through strong instructional leadership, high-quality coaching, and systems that make this part of everyday practice. These are not simply strategies, they are enduring commitments grounded in decades of partnership with schools, districts, and systems across the country who have achieved new heights.

Our vision has not changed because our purpose has not changed. Every student deserves to be taught by an excellent teacher and supported by effective leaders every year. We believe in intentional, sustained, and high-quality investments in educators. We focus on the most powerful lever for change – teachers and the leadership that supports them.

Remaining anchored does not mean standing still. It means having the clarity to know what should never change, even as the world around us does.

Innovate to Improve

While our mission remains constant, our approaches should never become static.

Innovation is not about abandoning what works. It is about strengthening it.

Each year we examine our work with one central question: How can we better serve educators, so they can better serve students? 

At times, innovation comes through new materials or technology. At times, it comes through refined processes, stronger partnerships, or new approaches for delivering high-quality professional learning. Often, it comes from removing unnecessary complexity so educators can focus on what matters most.

Innovation is not always the next invention. It is always disciplined problem-solving.

It is identifying friction, eliminating distractions, and continually refining our approach so students experience greater support and greater opportunity.

That commitment to continuous improvement is evident in the ways we are expanding access to high-quality learning through our Educator Effectiveness Preparation and Support System (EE PASS) platform, delivering nationwide professional learning with a 95% satisfaction rate, and providing virtual and in-person opportunities for educators to learn from NIET’s proven strategies.

As education continues to evolve, so will we – always anchored in our mission while relentlessly improving how we fulfill it.

Multiply the Opportunity for Students

Generating excellence at scale does not require doing more things. It requires multiplying what works.

The greatest progress is achieved not by adding more, but by becoming more intentional about where we invest our time, energy, and resources. By focusing on what matters most and expanding proven practices, we create systems where success becomes sustainable, replicable, and scalable.

We see this multiplication happening every day.

In Arizona, our partner Alhambra Elementary School District ranks among the top three percent of districts nationally for student learning growth over the last three years, based on the 2026 Education Scorecard. Riverwalk Academy in South Carolina improved from below state performance levels to above state averages in both mathematics and English language arts after partnering with NIET. South San Antonio ISD in Texas increased the number of schools earning A and B accountability ratings while strengthening instructional leadership across the district. In Louisiana, DeSoto Parish moved from 47th in the state performance ranking to 2nd by investing in strong classroom teaching.

Across the country, our cohorts of Teacher Leader Fellows continue to expand the reach of excellent teaching, while our publications, national webinars, and conferences continue to elevate the conversation around educator effectiveness and teacher leadership.

These accomplishments are encouraging because they demonstrate what happens when excellence is multiplied across classrooms, schools, districts and state systems.

The results build upon close to three decades of measurable impact.

For over 25 years, NIET partner districts have experienced an average 7% increase in student achievement. Partner schools have increased teacher retention by 12%. Communities implementing NIET support have realized a $14 return for every $1 invested. And, four NIET partners have earned international recognition as Top 10 finalists for the World's Best School Prizes.

This year, Southwest Junior High School (Gadsden Elementary School District #32, AZ) was named a finalist in T4 Education's 2026 World's Best School Prizes in the Overcoming Adversity category. I encourage you to cast your vote for the Community Choice Award by clicking here and support all of the great work happening in this school community.

These outcomes are reminders that investing in educators creates lasting benefits for students, schools, and communities.

As inspiring as these milestones are, what gives me the greatest optimism is not the numbers. It is the people behind them.

Every time I visit a partner school, I see educators who believe deeply in their students and in one another. I see leaders who invest in the human talent of their systems, prioritizing support, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

They remind me that excellence is never an endpoint. It is a daily commitment.

To all of our partners, thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your unwavering dedication to students. Thank you for embracing continuous improvement and for demonstrating what is possible when we unite around a cornerstone purpose.

As we enter this new school year, I am confident that by remaining anchored in our mission, innovating to continually improve, and multiplying what works for students, we will continue generating excellence for educators and students across the country.

Together, we will strengthen leaders, elevate teaching, expand opportunity, and help every student thrive.

Here's to a successful and inspiring 2026–2027 school year.

Joshua H. Barnett, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

NIET