Years ago, I read a blog post by an educator named Ryan whose thinking has stayed with me. He wrote about the importance of thinking locally, glocally, and globally. I wish I could find the original post to give him proper credit.

The idea feels even more relevant today. We need to learn from the people in our own communities, remain open to perspectives from around the world, and thoughtfully connect those ideas to the places we live and serve. As artificial intelligence changes education, we need people we trust to help us make sense of it.

We need places where educators can ask honest questions, share what they are learning, and consider what these changes mean for students. The best of IDEA is its people. Our relationships, experiences, and care for one another give us a community where we can navigate change together.

More Than Ever, We Need One Another. Universities, professional organizations, researchers, and technology companies give us valuable information, tools, and resources. But ideas often take hold when someone we trust explains why they matter.

The Ad Council’s Trusted Messengers Study  found that information shared by a trusted messenger was especially likely to influence people’s views and actions.

When an educator says, “I tried this,” “Here is what worked,” or
“Here is what I would change,” information becomes practical and credible.

AI Makes Relationships More Important. AI is moving faster than many schools can develop guidance. Gallup research found that only 18% of K-12 teachers receive formal guidance about using AI at work. Educators are already making decisions by relying on colleagues, experimentation, and professional networks. We need trusted communities where people can examine evidence, question assumptions, and discuss benefits, limitations, privacy, bias, and student needs.

Learn Locally. Connect Globally. A 2025 study from researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examined how a professional learning community became part of a school’s culture. The researchers identified leadership support, shared sense-making, security, and a willingness to be vulnerable as essential conditions for shared practice and innovation.

The study also offers an important reminder: bringing people together is not enough. Strong professional communities must intentionally create the trust and conditions that allow educators to reflect honestly, learn from one another, and address difficult issues.

That is what IDEA should make possible. We need to learn from national organizations, global researchers, and educators beyond Illinois. We also need to recognize the expertise in our own backyard. Illinois educators understand our students, policies, communities, opportunities, and constraints. Their knowledge is not secondary to outside expertise. It is expertise.

Our Regional Communities help educators connect locally. Our Spotlight Communities bring people together through shared interests, roles, and experiences. IDEA can help educators learn broadly, apply ideas thoughtfully within their communities, and share what Illinois discovers with others.

More than ever, we need trusted people who will help us understand change,
challenge our assumptions, and keep students at the center.

Learn locally. Connect globally. Share glocally.

Who do you know whose experience, questions, or ideas could help another educator? Invite them into the conversation. Invite them to volunteer.