Schools around the world are exploring new approaches to teaching and learning to ensure students are prepared for success in school and in life. Whether driven by a long-term vision or in response to urgent needs, these schools are led by passionate leaders who are driving change and committed to educational excellence. The Microsoft Showcase School program supports such efforts, and we’d love for you to explore the Incubator Path, the first step toward joining this program.

Microsoft Showcase Schools are led by educators who recognize the power of digital transformation to unleash students’ potential. Once these schools earn the Showcase School status, Microsoft offers opportunities for school leaders to share and exchange ideas around innovation and success with the field and highlight new practices and solutions online and through regional and global events. In addition, school leaders regularly enjoy connecting and learning from each other through the vibrant Showcase School community on Microsoft Teams.

Throughout a school’s education transformation journey, Microsoft and fellow partners assist in building capacity, guiding transformation, and providing early access to new research and solutions. There is a relentless focus through the program on securing strong student outcomes by creating safe, secure, and efficient schools that provide personalized and predictive learning that empowers students.

Whether your school is still under construction or fully operational—if you are considering a growth journey toward digital transformation, you are invited to apply to the Showcase Incubator Path. The Showcase Incubator Path is the initial step schools take before becoming a Showcase School.

Schools will go through the Incubator Path at their own pace supported by Microsoft and its partners. Along the way, they will have access to the broader Showcase School community to establish global connections and facilitate learning from and with other schools.

If this sounds like a program you would like to join, follow these two easy steps to nominate yourself.

Step 1

Familiarize yourself with the Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework and review the Showcase School rubric to identify where your school is on the transformation journey and the areas in which you’d like your school to grow as a result of your participation in the program. The work of the Showcase School Community is based around the Framework, which is designed to support school communities working toward transformational change.

Step 2

If you’re part of a new school project centered around a new build, please nominate your school.

Open and operational schools, prepare a two-minute Sway or video that tells the story, through a single, clear example of how you as the school leader have led your school’s innovation in one of the following areas:

  • Vision for change
  • Educator and leader professional development
  • Improvement process and data-driven decisions
  • Personalized learning and well-being
  • Future-ready skills

Begin your SWAY or video with your school’s name, city, and country. Your name and role should also be visible at the start of the presentation. Clearly respond to the following prompts:

  1. This is what we think about education transformation today.
  2. This is what we hope to learn about education transformation when we engage with Microsoft.
  3. This is what we are keeping in mind as we take these next steps.
  4. These are our current blockers/challenges.
  5. Close your SWAY or video with your school name, city, and country, as well as your name and role visible.

Once you have completed these steps, you will be ready to fill out the self-nomination form.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Incubator Path of the Showcase School program.

For questions, please contact gscs@microsoft.com.