How the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education turned a network of connections into a Community of Practice that spreads what works
Across rural Georgia, organizations in education, healthcare, business, and social services are working to improve outcomes for students and communities. But when learning stays siloed—within programs, counties, or even individual relationships— impact is limited.
That’s where our partnership with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) began.
The Challenge: When Good Ideas Stay Local
At the center of this work is the Rural Learning Network (RLN), a cross-sector initiative connecting leaders across the birth-to-workforce pipeline—from early childhood to higher education, from mental health to workforce development.
The right people were in the room. Important work was happening.
But like many networks, RLN faced a familiar challenge: what worked in one place wasn’t spreading. A promising approach in one county might never reach another. Learning stayed local—and progress slowed as a result.
The Shift: From Network to Community of Practice
Together with GPEE, we focused on a critical shift: moving from a network of connections to a true Community of Practice.
That meant designing for learning—not just convening.
We introduced structures that supported growing relationships, peer exchange, and shared reflection. Convenings became sessions where participants learned directly from one another’s experience, not just the presenter.
At the same time, we strengthened facilitation capacity—equipping network leaders with practical tools to lead more focused, participatory, and results-oriented conversations.
What Changed
The impact was immediate and visible:
- Conversations became more structured, inclusive, and action-oriented
- Participants engaged with one another—not just with presentations
- Ideas and practices began to travel across communities
- Convenings led to clearer next steps and stronger follow-through
As Kathleen Da Silva (Director of Regional Engagement) reflected:
“Working with the Knowledge Communities team helped me grow our network into a fully functioning Community of Practice and sharpen how I facilitate collaborative groups. Their coaching and facilitation strategies are practical and immediately usable. The tools and techniques I learned are being applied in ways that extend well beyond what I anticipated. For example, I’ve used the discussion methods at regional partner convenings to lead structured table conversations that transform presentations into shared learning and actionable next steps.”
Why It Matters
When networks are designed for learning—not just connection—ideas move.
And when ideas move, networks become more than a collection of people doing good work. They become engines for spreading what works—and accelerating impact.
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