The 2026 Theme I Can’t Ignore
I’ve been paying attention.
Five conferences since New Year’s.
Fifteen webinars (maybe more).
Stacks of notes, tools, strategies, and “next best practices”.
And yet… I keep circling back to one idea that refuses to leave.
There is a theme emerging in education right now - clear, consistent, and quietly powerful.
Agency.
Not the buzzword version. The real thing.
Human agency, sometimes called self-efficacy. And it’s showing up in two places.
📚Learner Agency
🧑🏫Teacher Agency
Closely connected… but not interchangeable.
The updated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines 3.0 make this theme bold and refreshing explicit:
Learner agency is the goal of education.
Not compliance.
Not coverage.
Not test scores.
Agency.
Learners who are:
Purposeful
Reflective
Resourceful
Authentic
Strategic
Action-Oriented
And here’s the good news: educators are not left guessing.
UDL provides concrete, research-based ways to design learning environments that build these qualities. Effective teachers are implementing these ideas every day, trusting the science, and seeing real impact. Not just on agency, but on engagement, access, and outcomes.
So far, so good.
But What About Teacher Agency?
Here’s where things get… interesting.
We know teacher agency matters.
Research has told us for decades that when teachers believe in their ability to make a difference, everything shifts. According to Tschannen-Moran & Hoy (2001), teachers with a strong sense of agency are more likely to:
Invest more effort in their teaching.
Set ambitious professional goals.
Plan more thoughtfully and intentionally.
Try new approaches (even when it’s uncomfortable).
Stay persistent when things get hard.
Build stronger connections with struggling students.
Reduce unnecessary referrals.
And - let’s not overlook this - stay in the profession.
In other words… teacher agency isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a cornerstone.
So here’s the puzzle:
If learner agency is the goal, and teacher agency is a major driver of that goal…
Where is the guidance on how to build teacher agency?
Not slogans.
Not inspiration.
Not “just take care of yourself” messages.
Actual, practical, system-level ways to help teachers reclaim:
Their sense of influence.
Their professional judgement.
Their belief that what they do matters.
Because right now?
Many teachers are doing everything they’re told… and quietly wondering if any of it is making a difference.
That’s not a motivation problem. That’s an agency problem.
So Let’s Talk About It
I’m curious - Teachers: what are you doing to build your own sense of agency right now?
And leaders…
What are you doing - intentionally - to build teacher agency in your schools?
Not accidentally. Not indirectly. On purpose.
If your first reaction is, “Huh… I’m not sure…” You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck.
I’ve started gathering ideas, patterns, and practical approaches - some from research, many from real educators doing this work in messy, imperfect, powerful ways.
And I have a feeling… Some of the best ideas might be sitting with you.
So tell me: Where do you see teacher agency showing up (or missing) in your world right now?
I’m listening. And I promise… something useful is coming your way soon.
