professional development
what if we started
by listening?
Every school has stories worth hearing. We train student facilitators to host peer conversations that surface what's already working and where there's room to grow. Through deep listening data, we help schools expand what's possible.
every voice tells a story.
polaris helps you hear them all.
Our platform transforms student conversations into instant, actionable insights, surfacing themes across hundreds of voices, with every finding backed by real audio.
create a day of listening
Design questions, train student facilitators, and schedule empathy interviews across your school or district.
students share their voices
Voice recordings, group discussions, or written responses, in whatever format feels natural.
polaris reveals what matters
Themes surface across hundreds of conversations. Every finding links back to real student audio.
empathy interviews & workshops
We facilitate empathy interviews and train educators in student co-analysis, where students help interpret and make meaning from the data alongside adults.
empathy interviews
Structured peer conversations where students talk openly about their school experience. We train student facilitators to lead these conversations at scale.
student co-analysis
Students don't just provide data. They help analyze it. Our workshops train students to identify themes, interpret findings, and co-create recommendations with educators.
action planning
Schools receive tailored recommendations with research-backed strategies, actionable next steps at varying effort levels, and connections to partners who can help.
stories from the field
We work with schools and districts across the United States and abroad, listening to students and educators to help reshape school practices.
michigan
Beginning in 2020 with Title I schools in Muskegon, multiple rounds of empathy interviews shaped educator PD and established a PBL cohort. This partnership led to a multi-million dollar Education Innovation and Research grant from the US Department of Education, a five-year study of student engagement, well-being, and absenteeism.
ohio
10+ Ohio districts across diverse regions came together for cross-district student voice analysis. Synthesized data and 1,000+ in-depth conversations explored perspectives on self-directed learning and what reimagined education could look like.
north carolina
A large rural district partnered with us for strategic planning, engaging students, families, community members, and staff. The resulting report informed direct changes in educational practice and became a cornerstone for future district planning.
what educators say
workshops & partnerships
Beyond empathy interviews, we offer hands-on workshops that meet educators where they are and build on the expertise already in the room.
design thinking & PBL
Design high-quality project-based learning that emphasizes community connections and interdisciplinary thinking through hands-on, classroom-ready sessions.
alternative assessment
Explore feedback literacy and iterative assessment: portfolios, growthbooks, and UDL systems that give students more ways to demonstrate what they know.
critical media literacy
Navigate digital tools, social media, and AI together. Practical workshops on applications and the questions they raise for educators and students.
our commitment
strong partnerships
We treat educators as experts. We help districts develop closer connections with young people and communities to collaboratively determine next steps together.
design for the margins
When we design for students at the margins, everyone benefits. Our approach centers the experiences of underserved learners to drive recommendations that lift all students.
thoughtful data privacy
Student information is securely stored and analyzed with care. Our consent-driven model anonymizes data, supports voice anonymization, and aligns with district policies.
ready to listen?
We work with K-12 public schools, universities, and progressive learning environments across the country. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we're happy to work with any school exploring what's possible.