What We Choose Next Matters

 
Focus over noice, connection over convenience

Volume 51

Only a month into this year, and everything already feels heavy.

There is so much happening right now, in the world and in education. At times, it feels overwhelming. So many things are moving at once. Global uncertainty. ​ICE raids​. Technology accelerating. AI reshaping how we work and learn. All of it layered on top of one another.

And yet, as heavy as it feels, ​I also see hope. I see progress. I see people asking better questions​. I see educators rolling up their sleeves and doing the work despite it all. That tension, between weight and hope, is where many of us are living right now.

This feels like an inflection point, one that is asking something of all of us.

We can allow ourselves to be swallowed up by everything coming at us. Or we can choose to focus on what actually needs to be done. Even now.

That choice is not easy, especially in a world that makes sustained focus harder than ever. Our “always on” world is filled with constant pings and interruptions. Phones. Slack. Social media. Email. Each distraction pulls us out of the moment, and ​research shows​ that it can take up to twenty minutes to fully regain focus. That loss of momentum adds up quickly.

When we’re constantly being interrupted, deep work becomes nearly impossible. Learning stays at surface level. Connection weakens. Our thinking turns reactive, and our relationships begin to suffer.

​Deep focus has never mattered more​. Uninterrupted time helps us reconnect with our work and our purpose. Even small pockets of focus increase efficiency through intention, and create the kind of deep learning that actually sticks.

This challenge is showing up EVERYWHERE in education:

  1. ​Country-wide social media bans​ and a rapid increase in ​cell phone restrictions​, especially in schools.

  2. ​Growing efforts to limit or rethink screen time​, particularly for younger learners, as attention and learning take center stage.

  3. ​AI accelerating​ faster than our systems, policies, and classrooms can comfortably keep up with.

Technology that once helped bridge access gaps is now being reexamined for the ways it pulls attention away, even as new tools promise speed and efficiency.

When I was at FETC, I saw both the tension and the opportunity. The AI conversation had moved beyond the “shiny object” phase and quick fixes. Educators and leaders were focused on how to thoughtfully integrate AI into learning objectives, improve outcomes, and ​build the core skills​ students need for what comes next.

One of the most powerful shifts I heard was this. “How do we redesign lessons to empower responsible use of AI, ​rather than spending all our time trying to catch students cheating​?”

That question represents a real mindset shift. It requires intentional design. It requires trust. And it requires educators who are willing to lead culture change, not just adopt new tools.Which is why this moment matters so much.

I stay in this work because I see educators and leaders choosing intention over reaction. Focus over noise. Connection over convenience. Even now. Especially now.

This is an inflection point. And what we choose to prioritize next matters more than ever.

With gratitude,

Elana

 
 
 

​Spotlight: Get to Know our Founder​

Elana was ​recently featured by Founded By Women​, sharing the story behind building Leoni Consulting Group and the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership in the education space. She reflects on her path from foundation-led work into entrepreneurship, how personal history shapes leadership, and the ongoing work of staying values-aligned as the stakes and responsibilities grow.

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EdTech Good News

Mississippi’s public schools are showing what steady, systems-level improvement can look like. A recent New York Times feature highlights how the state drove major gains in early literacy by ​focusing on evidence-based instruction, clear standards, and sustained support for teachers​. It’s a reminder that sustained implementation is what turns policy into measurable progress.

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Marketing & Education Must Reads

Marketing

Social Media Reports

Education

AI (welcome to our new section on AI...yes it's moving so fast, it now has its own section!)

 

In Good Company

Our chance to brag about the brands we have the honor of partnering with:

 

The Big Game is starting to feel less like a single event and more a season, with brands releasing ads earlier than ever, teasing the ads with trailers, and stretching one commercial into weeks of momentum through YouTube drops, stunts, and side conversations. Here are a few we’ve been watching, and why they stood out:

Reply back and tell us which one is your favorite so far?