In Pittsburgh, certain numbers carry special meaning.
143 was Fred Rogers’ shorthand for “I love you.” 412 connects Pittsburghers to home. There are 90 neighborhoods, 446
On Sept. 25, Remake Learning will release The 57, marking 20 years of learning innovation by spotlighting 57 projects that have changed learning across the Pittsburgh region and distilling what educators and communities anywhere can learn from them.
At a moment when educators are wrestling with chronic absenteeism, youth mental health, disengagement and how schools can remain relevant in an AI world, the new publication asks a refreshingly practical question: What is actually working?
The projects in The 57 took root in classrooms, libraries, museums, maker spaces, parks and community centers and some places that defy categorization. They include weather balloons and video games, flight simulators and digital fabrication labs, TV shows and toys.
But taken together, The 57 makes a surprisingly low-tech case for innovation: Give educators permission to try things. Start small. Build relationships. Use what you already have. And don't be afraid to make a little bet on an interesting idea.
Again and again, the projects suggest that relationships, belonging, and student agency set the stage for achievement.
One teacher’s love of flying led to flight simulators and an aviation-focused career pathway for students. A cartoonist recording himself on YouTube helped launch a renowned digital art program. A shuttered hospital became a career-exposure hub. And one initiative that helps schools create belonging through “house systems” led to a 74% drop in discipline referrals.
The 57 also offers a counterpoint to the idea that educational innovation in 2026 must begin with the newest technology or AI tool. Many of these projects began with something much simpler: an educator who cared deeply about something and was given room to share that passion with young people.
Behind the 57 stories are thousands of educators, artists, librarians, technologists, students and families who have spent two decades experimenting with what learning can look like.
For national education writers, The 57 raises a timely question: What could happen if more educators were given permission to make little bets – to test an idea, follow a passion, repurpose what they already have, and see where it takes their students?
The 57 publishes Sept. 25, and Remake Learning’s leaders and participating educators are available to discuss what two decades of experimentation in Pittsburgh can teach communities nationwide about making learning more relevant, engaging and joyful.
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