At this year’s Remake Learning Assembly, visitors found something for everyone — from horses to honeybees and historic artifacts to cutting-edge robots, along with a shiny new student-run food truck and plenty of joyful reconnection. 

As we wade deeper into a new school year dominated by conversations about disembodied artificial intelligence, the Assembly gave more than 250 local educators the chance to gather face-to-face with old friends and new acquaintances  

This year’s Assembly, held on Friday, September 26 at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, also welcomed about 80 students. Many of these students were there to showcase innovative projects happening at their schools. In the process, they had the chance to get first-hand glimpses of education resources and experiences happening throughout the Pittsburgh region. 

“We decided to bring our student ambassadors, which are our leadership group in Grade Two,” said Avonworth School District primary principal Dr. Scott Miller, who explored the event with his group of young students in tow. “We’ve been here for two hours, and the students are so engaged and interested, I wish it went longer. … I think it’s great just to see what’s out there and see what the different schools are doing. This event is awesome.” 

Attendees got hands-on experience with everything from flight simulation to robot mini-golf. As they spoke with colleagues and potential collaborators, the event effectively brought the Remake Learning network to life. Cross-sector collaboration was visibly on display and networking brought together classroom teachers, out-of-school-time educators and ed tech specialists.

“I’m here because this is an opportunity to create so many connections and bring back so many ideas. Because ultimately, we are all working to make our children’s lives better,” said Dragon’s Den co-founder Giulia Petrucci. “On this one day, I can make the connections and then I create a whole program for a year.” 

Exhibition tables were set up out in the sunshine in Buhl Community Park and indoors throughout the Children’s Museum’s entryway and galleries, as well as inside the Museum Lab. These tables featured more than three dozen schools and education partners. 

Reflecting on the past year, Envisioning the year to come

Inside the New Hazlett theater, guests were welcomed by Remake Learning’s executive director, Tyler Samstag, and director of relationships Stephanie Lewis. 

“This region — the Steel City — is writing a new story,” Samstag told attendees. “A story of reinvention. Where mills once stood, there are now literal centers for artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and the technologies that will shape the century ahead. Our universities are leading in research. Policymakers and investors are looking to Pittsburgh not with nostalgia, but with expectation.”  

At the same time, Samstag said, “here in Pennsylvania, education is experiencing a level of freedom unlike anything we’ve seen in decades. For years, schools have had to work inside a box — designing around rigid graduation requirements, seat-time mandates, and rules that often left little room for innovation. But those walls have come down.” 

Lewis shared brief updates on examples that highlight these advances, including progress with Pulse Checks, a deeper focus on rural communities, growth in the Future-Driven Schools and Tugboat Grant initiatives, the launch of National Moonshot Grants, the 10th anniversary of Remake Learning Days, release of unveiled the Pennsylvania Innovation Guide and the publication Both/And. 

And students — including a pair of eager fourth-graders who participate in Bee Club at California Area School District and proudly wore their beekeeping suits and helmets — shared about the many ways that innovative experiences are helping them learn and pointing them toward thriving futures. 

“This year’s Assembly was very meaningful,” Lewis said. “Seeing young people at the center, full of light and curiosity, was a refreshing reminder of our why. It was a great display of the essence of Remake Learning in action and it felt like the day could have gone on forever.”

What you may have missed

Did you miss the 2025 Remake Learning Assembly? Here are some of the key announcements and opportunities shared from the stage to keep you in the loop:

• New Moonshot Grant round now open: Grants of up to $50,000 are available to support bold, transformative ideas in AI in Education and Outdoor Learning. Letters of Inquiry are due October 31st. Start your application now!
• Let’s Play, Pittsburgh! grants opening soon: A new public grant opportunity reimagining the city as a playful learning landscape, blending creativity, learning, and urban design.
• Future-Driven Schools continues to grow: Now 47 school districts strong, the Future-Driven Schools cohort is redesigning learning experiences across western Pennsylvania.
• Working Group Moonshot investments: Remake Learning invested $650,000 in 36 new Moonshot projects, aligned with network priorities in Personalized Learning, STEM/STEAM Learning, and Civic Learning.
• Meet Your Neighbors series launching in November: New events inviting network members into innovative learning spaces like CodeJoy, Junior Achievement’s Biztown, and Bella Terra Stables to spark collaboration and inspiration.
• Publications released this year: The Pennsylvania Innovation Guide bridges policy and practice in personalized learning. Both/And explores education for human flourishing, blending skills and meaning.
• Rural Schools Collaborative expansion: Remake Learning continues to work with Intermediate Unit One to lead the Rural Schools Collaborative supporting learning innovation in rural communities.
• Remake Learning Days milestone: Remake Learning Days celebrated 10 years of festivities in 2025, now reaching communities around the world. Looking ahead to 2026, increased investment from the Pennsylvania Department of Education will help expand statewide access.
• Remake Learning Council expansion: The Remake Learning Council advisory group continues to grow, adding new leaders from emerging industries to guide the region’s learning ecosystem.
• Forge Futures 2.0: Coming this February in Nashville, the second Forge Futures summit will showcase Pittsburgh’s leadership in learning innovation and inspire educators across the country, in partnership with AASA’s National Conference on Education.
• Storytelling & National Spotlight: Remake Learning’s work has been featured in EdWeek, CNN, NBC Nightly News, and more.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and catalyze bold new ideas in learning.

Credits:

Melissa Rayworth

Melissa Rayworth is a writer for regional and global news outlets, and a communications consultant who works with people, foundations and companies to tease out and tell their stories across media.

Ben Filio

Ben Filio is a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, engagements, editorial work, and documentary work.