The Delta Issue #83

Reimagining the K–12 Model with Frances Messano

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Hi everyone, Kunjan here.

How do we prepare students for a future that will be so vastly different from the past—and our present?

The traditional American education model was built for a world where the path from school to work was relatively clear. Today, things are changing. AI is already reshaping entry-level work, and with it, the pathways into careers and the skills young people will need to navigate and thrive in their adult lives.

As part of our Women’s History Month series, I’m joined by Frances Messano , CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy focused on building a better education system by connecting people, resources, and ideas.

Frances spends her time working with leaders and innovators who are actively rethinking how education is designed and delivered. In her recent manifesto, Building Anew, Not Rebuilding, she makes the case for rethinking the K–12 model, while still improving the system students are in today.

In this conversation, Frances shares how to hold onto what matters most for kids as we build toward the next era of learning.

Watch our full conversation below.

The transcript below has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Kunjan Narechania: Welcome to The Delta. I’m Kunjan Narechania, CEO of Watershed Advisors . For Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting women shaping education leadership.

Today I’m joined by a colleague and close partner, Frances Messano , CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy working to build a better education system by connecting people, resources, and ideas.

Frances, thanks so much for being here.

Frances Messano: Thanks for having me, Kunjan.

Why the Current Model No Longer Fits the World Students Are Entering

Kunjan: You recently co-authored Building Anew, Not Rebuilding, which argues this isn’t a moment for incremental change; it’s a moment to think more boldly about the future of K–12 education.

Why does this moment call for something fundamentally different?

Frances: The world young people are entering is fundamentally different from the one our current system was designed for.

For a long time, we assumed a linear path—K–12, then college, then a career—and a relatively stable set of skills needed to succeed. That’s no longer true. We’re seeing rapid technological change, constant shifts in the labor market, and increasing political and social complexity.

At the same time, families are already moving toward different models—microschools, homeschooling, hybrid learning. And we’re facing real challenges in the system today: academic declines, teacher burnout. All of that points to the need for a new approach.

Frances: We should be asking: what do young people actually need to learn to navigate this world?

The answer includes more flexible pathways, stronger connections to community, and learning experiences that build purpose, agency, and connection.

Build What’s Next While Improving What Exists

Frances: This isn’t a binary. We need to do both: improve the system we have and build what comes next.

Students are in classrooms today. We can’t pause their education while we figure out the future.

Kunjan: You also talk about how the boundaries between school, work, and community are blurring. How should innovators and vendors think about designing for that future?

Frances: Before we even get to tools, we need a clearer shared vision: what is the purpose of K–12 education today?

For me, that North Star is helping every young person flourish, with purpose, agency, and connection. That means building foundational knowledge, but also critical thinking, collaboration, ethical judgment, and a sense of direction. I worry about whether young people feel hopeful about their future. Purpose and connection matter deeply for that. And we’re already seeing promising shifts. Schools are moving beyond the idea that a diploma alone is enough. They’re helping students earn college credits, gain work experience, and build real-world pathways. There’s a huge opportunity for tools to support more personalized pathways, career exposure, and connections to real-world experiences.

Right now, the market doesn’t always reward the kinds of solutions we need. Philanthropy can help fund early-stage innovation, and governments can help create the conditions for better solutions to scale.

This is a Moment for Working Together

Kunjan: Many leaders are operating under tighter financial constraints. How should policymakers, nonprofits, and innovators respond?

Frances: This is a moment for much deeper collaboration. We need to come together as a field to define a clear North Star, and rebuild momentum around education as a national priority.

But beyond vision, we need to rethink how we work together. The era of isolated organizations solving problems alone is ending. We’ll need more partnerships, more coherence, possibly shared infrastructure, joint ventures, even mergers. The nonprofit landscape will likely look very different in a few years. The question is: how do we shape that change, rather than react to it?

How Can We Get From Too Many Tools to Fewer, Better Solutions?

Kunjan: A superintendent recently said, “I can’t buy ten different solutions. I need something that works together.”

Frances: Exactly. We can’t keep layering disconnected tools and expecting systems to work.

We need fewer, better solutions, and more clarity about what’s actually effective. We also need to act like a learning system. When something isn’t working, we should stop doing it. That sounds simple, but it’s not something we consistently do.

Define What Works and Acting on It

Kunjan: How do we define and signal quality?

Frances: We need clearer definitions of quality, and procurement systems that prioritize outcomes. I’m encouraged by the move toward outcomes-based approaches, where we focus on evidence and impact. At the same time, we have to support early-stage innovators in building that evidence. Ultimately, we need an ecosystem that consistently rewards what actually works for students.

Step Into Leadership: Encouragement for Women in Education

Kunjan: What advice would you give to women who want to step into education leadership?

Frances: There are so many women in education, but far fewer in top leadership roles.

So my first piece of advice is: you are worthy, and your leadership is needed. If you have a bold idea, don’t hold back. This is a moment that calls for big thinking, from people who understand what’s happening in classrooms.

Step into your power. Dream big, and follow it through.

Kunjan: Who are women we should be paying attention to?

Frances: A few I’d highlight:

Michelle Culver , pushing us to think about human connection in the age of AI
Diane Tavenner , reimagining what school can look like
Lakisha Young , elevating the role of parents and families as leaders

Kunjan: Thank you so much, Frances.

For those watching, you can find this conversation and others in our Women’s History Month series by searching The Delta on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or by visiting us on LinkedIn.