“We need one another. Developing sound, solid relationships is really important.” These words from a leading figure in the youth development, philanthropy, and social service sectors capture the thread running through our most-read stories of 2025: human connection.
From investing youth in the arts to tackling chronic absenteeism to building a historic afterschool system, this year’s most popular stories underscore that driving meaningful change for young people begins with building strong, supportive relationships. Or as one principal in our top-viewed article said it more simply: “Build relationships with everyone.”
We think that’s a great message to head out of 2025 with. And now, here are Wallace’s top 10 stories of the year, measured by page views.
- Building Strong School Leaders: Strong school leadership plays a critical role in teacher satisfaction, retention, instructional quality, and overall school climate. This article explores what districts have learned from building comprehensive, aligned principal pipelines and how these systems help develop and sustain effective leaders.
Investing in Youth From “Cradle to Career”: Imagine a world where every child has access to the support they need to thrive? Children’s Funding Project is working to help communities create long-term solutions for youth by increasing funding and expanding out-of-school-time opportunities. Learn more about their work from the founder and CEO, Elizabeth Gaines.
How Can Principal Supervisors Best Support School Leaders? Principal supervisors can play a powerful role in helping school leaders strengthen teaching and learning. See how six districts redefined the position to better support principals and what lessons emerged along the way.
How Arts Learning Connects Youth to Community and Culture: What if learning about and making art could help connect students to the world they live in? And how might that change the experiences of both students and communities? Arts learning expert Kylie Peppler and her team at the University of California identified five approaches for Connected Arts Learning that emerged from a literature review and follow-up interviews with arts education leaders. This article summarizes the approaches.
Cultivating Creativity and Connection Through Youth Arts: Two recent Wallace-commissioned studies explore how youth arts programs help young people build confidence, creativity, and social connection—skills that support their growth and well-being. This article dives into the research and offers a look ahead at Wallace’s upcoming youth arts work.
- Developing School Leaders—for the Long Haul: How do districts create principal pipelines that last in the face of change and uncertainty? By thinking long-term. A report by Vanderbilt University and Policy Studies Associates offers a framework with building blocks that districts can put in place to help their pipeline initiatives stick. We asked leaders from three of these districts to share what implementing the components of the framework looks like in practice.
Expanding School Days, Expanding Opportunity: Everything’s bigger in Texas—including the ideas! Read highlights from policymakers, out-of-school-time leaders, and more folks who discussed the Lone Star State’s current and future plans for OST at an event earlier this year.
Who Has the Principal’s Back? Even the most talented leaders can’t succeed without the right systems behind them. In this article, Men of Color in Educational Leadership co-founders Harrison Peters and Steve Gering outline how districts can strengthen student outcomes by focusing on the often-overlooked role of principal supervisors—the key link between district leadership and school-level execution.
- Decades of Dedication: Shaping New York City’s Afterschool System: Jane Quinn and Paulette LoMonaco have been leading figures in youth development, philanthropy, and social service for more than five decades. Here, they reflect on the creation of the largest afterschool system in the U.S., explaining the challenges the early pioneers had to overcome in doing this work, what other cities could learn from New York City, and why this is all important today.
These Principals Are Working to Move the Needle on Chronic Absenteeism: Chronic absenteeism has been top of mind for many educators this year, so it’s no surprise that this piece landed in our number one spot. Principals at Kaiulani Elementary in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Manzano High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, share how they are turning the tide on chronic absenteeism through personal connections, incentivizing attendance, analyzing data and insights, and more.
