In 2005, eight educators made their way through the busy halls of the NECC Conference in Philadelphia to meet one another for the first time. What brought them together wasn’t just that they all used Discovery Education and saw its power to engage students while aligning to academic standards, but a shared spark: what could happen if we learned how to get the most out of this, together? They arrived eager and hopeful, bringing stories from their classrooms and a desire to dream bigger. At that moment the DEN (Discovery Educator Network) was born.
Now, twenty years later, the DEN is a thriving professional learning community filled with stories, connections, and shared wisdom. To celebrate our 20th birthday, we asked DEN members to reflect on what they’ve learned through their involvement. Here are 20 lessons from 20 years in the DEN.
Collaboration & Community: How DEN Members Inspire One Another
1. “One of the most valuable insights I’ve gained from my time in the DEN is that teaching and learning are at their best when they are collaborative. Surrounding myself with passionate, like-minded educators has shown me that sharing ideas, resources, and encouragement not only elevates my own practice, but also creates a ripple effect that impacts students far beyond my own classroom.” – Carrie Willis, STEAM & Technology Director, CA
2. “When I was first introduced to the DEN, I didn’t have a large professional cohort to rely on for new and innovative ideas. I think the network in the DEN is probably one of the things that is most impressive. You’re able to get together with these amazing, innovative, imaginative, creative, kinetic people to share the things they are most excited about.” -Rob Lamb, Teacher, MO
3. “Fellow DEN members have inspired me to be more innovative and reflective in my teaching and leadership. Their diverse perspectives and shared passion for education encourage me to take risks, embrace new strategies, and prioritize collaboration. Through their support and ideas, I’ve grown more confident in leading change and fostering a student-centered learning environment.” -Emily Strickland, Middle School Teacher, SC
4. “There’s nothing like having a group of educators who you can text, email, call, ask questions, get ideas, and ask for HELP if you need it.” -Wandalyn Jones, Academic Interventionist, SC
5. “Connecting educators to each other is so important, and as a librarian—there’s only one of me (in the building). So, to have other educators who I can connect with is really important. To ask, ‘How are you handling this? What can you share?’” – Lisa Wolski, Library Media Specialist, NY
6. “I love being part of the DEN because it’s so positive and innovative. People are excited to share what they know, they’re excited to learn from one another, and they’re excited to grow and help the people around them.” Sarah Yonts, Librarian, WI
7. “Some valuable insight I’ve learned in the DEN is that you’re never alone. There are plenty of other educators who have similar jobs to you, and Discovery gives you so many ways to connect.” -Anne Truger, Digital Learning Specialist, IL
Empowering Educators: Building Confidence and Cultivating Leaders in the DEN
8. “Being a member of the DEN has helped me step outside my comfort zone. I love teaching, but I’m shy when it comes to speaking in front of others. From presenting at virtual conferences to leading DEN workshops, I’m now comfortable presenting in front of others, whether it’s online or in person.” -Wandalyn Jones, Academic Interventionist,
9. One professional challenge the DEN helped me overcome was regarding funding. I heard over and over that people were getting thousands of dollars in grants and funding, but I was getting nowhere. At a regional workshop, I attended a helpful seminar. I wrote and published my first request at that session, and it was funded by the weekend.” -Mark Case, Teacher, NC
10. “I had no idea what I was capable of until the DEN showed me. I never considered myself a leader, but slowly, through the DEN, I realized that I had potential and the right personality to both lead and guide others.” -Anne Truger, Digital Learning Specialist, IL
11. “One of my favorite memories from my time in the DEN was when I worked with teachers from another district in South Carolina to present a webinar to teachers across the state. It was wonderful to collaborate and to have a platform where we were able to share with others!” – Laney Rogers, Instructional Technology Coach, SC
12. “After attending my first DENSI, I truly became a different educator. I realized that my calling extends beyond teaching students and supporting teachers in my own school. The DEN has shown me that I can make a difference that reaches far beyond the walls of my school and into the wider educational community—locally, nationally, and even globally.” -Carrie Willis, STEAM & Technology Director, CA
Transforming Classrooms: How the DEN Fuels Innovation and Engagement
13. “There are so many digital resources on Discovery Experience. Through DEN and attending DENSI, I have learned how to put them to good use. It saves so much time and aligns them with the standards.” – Shelby Kilmister, 6th Grade Science Teacher, NH
14. “A favorite memory is when I started using the DEN’s content videos, specifically the science topics, and added them to my lessons on a regular basis. I can remember the students being more engaged and having a better ability to make connections with the content and skills.” – Lisa Gray, STEAM Specialist, PA
15. “Collaborating with innovative educators has inspired me to design learning experiences that are more student-centered, inclusive, and engaging, especially for multilingual learners. It’s pushed me to embrace curiosity, experiment with new strategies, and model lifelong learning for my students.” – Natalia Rasavong, ESL Teacher, WI
16. “Through the DEN, I had the opportunity to do a virtual field trip – the polar bear scientist trip via Zoom. My students got to hear from real scientists doing real work. Our class was able to ‘visit’ a place we could never take an actual field trip to. My students were able to come up with some really interesting questions for the scientists as well.” – Shawn Pashby, 4th and 5th Grade Teacher, MI
The DEN Effect: Friendship, Innovation, and a Shared Mission to Empower Students
17. “My favorite memory from my time in the DEN is the connections I made during collaborative sessions at DENSI 2025. [DENSI, the DEN Summer Institute, is an immersive, residential-style professional development experience for educators.] I remember sitting around a table with educators from all over the country, sharing ideas, laughing, and realizing we were all driven by the same passion—to inspire and empower our students. That mix of learning something new, testing out creative tools, and building friendships that continue beyond the event really captures the DEN spirit for me.” -Natalia Rasavong, ESL Teacher, WI
18. “DENSI (The DEN Summer Institute) is such a fun experience for teachers. You’re going to meet friends that you’ll keep for life, and you’re going to have so many ‘aha’ moments yourself.” -Heather Willsey, Teacher & Tech Coach, MI
19. “When I first started interacting with Discovery Education, I was about 10 years into my career and starting to feel stuck. I wasn’t burnt out, and I wasn’t doing a bad job, but I was getting to the point that I wasn’t sure if this is what I wanted to do for the next 20 years. I knew that if it felt that way to me, it would certainly start to feel that way to my students. This is when I first learned about the DEN and Discovery Education. I was lucky enough to go to their STEM Institute in 2012, where I first really started talking to people who are in the DEN. I realized very quickly that these were people I needed to be around because they injected energy into me. Whenever I interact with people from the DEN, I leave feeling invigorated and more excited about going back to the classroom to try new ideas with my students.” -Rob Lamb, Teacher, MO
20. “Becoming a DEN member has been the best decision of my career. It’s helped me grow professionally and opened new opportunities. I’ve presented at conferences, webinars, and been encouraged to become more of a leader. It’s empowered me as a teacher. It’s been truly wonderful.” – Susan Barnes, 6th Grade Science Teacher, SC
