As a leading educational travel company, NationsClassroom provides student tours and school trips, believes learning is better when experienced, and makes the process simple and rewarding for educators. Educational travel is evolving, and for today’s students, meaningful real-world experiences matter more than ever. As a leading educational travel company, NationsClassroom provides student tours and school trips, believes learning is better when experienced, and makes the process simple and rewarding for educators. After being named a Top 10 Educational Travel Company by Education Insider in 2025, NationsClassroom was recognized as Educational Tour Company of the Year for 2026, reflecting its commitment to consistent, high-quality outcomes for educators and students alike. NationsClassroom designs and delivers student tours, class trips, and school travel experiences for middle and high school students across the United States and beyond. “Unique is a great description of what we strive to be,” says Founder and CEO Jay Bloxsom. "Our greatest competitive advantage is that we are debt-free and domestically and family owned. This foundation allows us to grow intentionally, to focus like a laser on understanding the expectations of a very specific customer, and to be obsessed with being the best-in-the-world at exceeding those expectations without being beholden to the influence of outside investors. Being debt-free gives schools peace-of-mind to travel confidently with NationsClassroom as they know we will be their partner now and in the future.”
What challenges do theological institutions face balancing rigor, affordability, and practical readiness today? Many theological institutions continue to navigate the challenge of balancing academic rigor, affordability and real-world readiness beyond traditional ministry training. Guilford School of Theology maintains this balance through an academic model that integrates ministry, counseling and education in medicine. Practical, hands-on training is embedded across its programs, preparing graduates for real-world professional settings. “We combine academic rigor, affordability and a practical approach to ministry that meets real community needs,” says Dr. John W. S. Howard, founder and president. Defining Academic Structure and Standards How does Guilford School of Theology structure academic programs and admission requirements across levels? Guilford School of Theology maintains a consistent academic structure across its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Each program combines ministry, counseling, psychology and leadership training. The admission criteria are structured with specific academic requirements for each program. Applicants to the bachelor’s programs must be high school graduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Entry into the master’s program requires a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.5, while doctoral programs require a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.7..
Top Jewish Learning School 2026
What distinguishes Hebrew Wizards’ approach to Jewish education from traditional classroom models? For more than two decades, Hebrew Wizards has reimagined what Jewish education can look like—transforming it from a traditional classroom experience into a dynamic, inclusive, and deeply engaging journey rooted in community values. Founded over 21 years ago by Rabbi Deborah Salomon, Hebrew Wizards was created with a clear and compelling vision; to build a welcoming space where all families—especially interfaith families and those from diverse backgrounds—could feel at home exploring Jewish life, learning, and spirituality. At its core, Hebrew Wizards is both an experiential Jewish learning school and a vibrant congregation. Its unique model blends education with community, offering students and families opportunities to connect not only through study, but through shared experiences—Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, community service projects, and meaningful life cycle events. “We believe everyone has the right to celebrate Judaism in their own unique way and to help make the world better through kindness and acts of service,” says Rabbi Deb. A Life Rooted in Family and Community How does Rabbi Deborah Salomon’s personal journey shape the culture and philosophy of Hebrew Wizards? Rabbi Deb’s vision is deeply personal. Married for 32 years and the mother of three daughters—including her youngest, adopted from Vietnam—she has always been guided by the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, included, and confident participating in Jewish life. That same philosophy extends into the culture of Hebrew Wizards. While Rabbi Deb founded the program, she is the first to say that its success is built on something much larger than one individual. Hebrew Wizards is powered by a devoted and passionate team of educators, teen leaders, and extraordinary musicians who bring energy, creativity, and heart to every aspect of the experience.
Top Online Charter High School 2026
What challenges exist in traditional education models for modern students with diverse needs today? Education is evolving, but most systems are still built around fixed schedules, shared pacing, and one-size-fits-all expectations. For many students, that model no longer reflects reality. At ThrivePoint High School, the approach is intentionally different. Rather than modifying a traditional structure, the school is designed from the ground up to meet students where they are, offering a personalized learning experience that reflects how students learn today. “At ThrivePoint, we exist to bring opportunities to students the traditional system hasn’t reached,” says Angela Hollingsworth, Director of Schools. “We aren’t in competition with other schools; we are a premium option for those who need their education designed around their lives.” Serving more than 1,800 students across Arizona, ThrivePoint offers both fully online and hybrid learning options, supported by five campuses in the Phoenix area and additional satellite learning centers in Yuma and Mesa designed to expand access. At its core is a commitment to what the school defines as “white glove service,” a proactive, high-touch support system designed to anticipate student needs before they become barriers. “We succeed by creating a flexible environment that honors the evolution of the learner,” Hollingsworth explains. “For students who felt invisible in traditional settings, we offer a place where their schedule is respected, not dictated. We don’t wait for a student to ask for help; we anticipate their needs and provide the resources so they can learn any place, any time, on their own terms.” How does ThrivePoint High School structure personalized support to improve student engagement and outcomes? Every student is paired with a dedicated Student Success Coach from the moment they enroll. These coaches guide students through their journey, building individualized success plans and maintaining accountability through consistent, structured support. “Our coaching model is built on one simple rule: do what is in the best interest of the student,” Hollingsworth says. “Our coaches don’t just track grades; they manage the ‘white glove’ experience. They assume positive intentions, seeing the best in every student, even when the student might not see it in themselves yet.”
Educational Management and Consultant
Education has always carried a promise to help students discover what they’re capable of and how they can thrive beyond the classroom. Schools play a vital role in shaping that journey, yet the way they are structured often makes it difficult to respond to every learner’s distinct ambitions, interests and realities. With fixed curricula, standardized pathways and complex systems, the challenge isn’t a lack of care or effort, but a structure that wasn’t built with flexibility at its core. So what if that structure were reimagined? What if education bent to meet the learner instead of the other way around—by opening doors in ways that truly reflect the diversity of student potential? These are the questions Engaged Education, a full-service educational management and consulting partner was built to answer, by challenging the conventions of how schools are designed, supported and scaled. “Our focus has always been student-centered learning, building everything around the learner experience and meeting them where they are. We bring in resources from the community, the state and beyond to support each family and learner in a way that’s truly personalized,” says Dr. Angelina Zeller, president and CEO. A Model That Breaks the Mold Engaged Education’s model begins with designing academic experiences that are customized to the student. Instead of funneling all learners through a singular academic path, the company partners with schools to design programs that reflect the needs, goals and pace of the student population. This individualized approach builds confidence and engagement at every level. A key enabler of this model is curriculum agility. While many institutions are locked into limited content partnerships, the company sources curriculum globally from traditional materials to AI- powered platforms. Every selection is guided by what a specific learner or institution requires, ensuring programs remain relevant, rigorous, and unbounded by outdated resources.
Top 10 University Presidents - 2026
Adela de la Torre became the ninth president of San Diego State University in 2018.
Dr. Jeffrey Senese is an academic leader with extensive administrative experience across both U.S. and international institutions.
Wendell Godwin has more than fifteen years of experience in higher education leadership. Under his direction, East Central University (ECU) recently achieved a 9.3 percent enrollment growth rate, outpacing the other regional universities in Oklahoma.
Business, Tech & Corporate Skill Training
Engaging Tomorrows Hospitality Leaders with Experiential Learning
Marc Brown, Executive Director of the J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute, University of Utah
Education and Admission Consulting
Designing For Equity: A Leader's Blueprint for Human-Centered Innovation
Robert Dillon, Director of Innovative Learning, School District of University City
Pre-Schools
Caring Is the Heart of Educational Mentoring
Dr. Daniel H. Shapiro, District Director of School Counseling, Broward County Public Schools
Boarding Schools
Turning Professional Development Into Measurable Impact
Anthony Dougherty, Director of Professional Development, The School District of Palm Beach County
Bible College
Building Purpose-Driven Edtech Ecosystems
Christopher Bolin, Director of Technology & Innovation, Bethel Park School District
IN MY OPINION
Marketing Services
AI Didn’t Create the Assessment Crisis: It Revealed One
David Swisher, Director of Online Services, Kingswood University
LAST WORD
Bible College
Cost Versus Value In The Edtech/It World
Robert Fishtrom, Director of IT, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District
IN FOCUS
Shaping Minds: The Impact of Theology Schools
Theology schools develop ethical leaders through faith-based education, critical thinking, and community engagement, addressing modern societal challenges with moral and intellectual depth.
Real-World Experiences for Modern Students with Educational Tours
Educational tours combine experiential learning, cultural exposure, and skill development to create engaging, real-world educational experiences for modern students.
EDITORIAL
Learning Models Built Around Real Engagement
At the centre of this issue, NationsClassroom is recognised as the Educational Tours Company of the Year 2026. The company builds curriculum-aligned educational travel experiences that reduce operational burden for educators while delivering meaningful student engagement. Its disciplined approach to educator support and on-ground execution has enabled strong satisfaction scores and long-term school partnerships. By combining structured logistics with experiential learning, NationsClassroom positions travel as an extension of the classroom.
A similar focus on engagement and accessibility appears across the institutions featured in this edition. Guilford School of Theology, recognised as Top Theology School 2026, integrates theology, counselling and community care into a practical academic model designed around professional readiness. Community-centred experiential learning shapes Hebrew Wizards, recognised as Top Jewish Learning School 2026, where mentorship and interactive learning strengthen long-term participation. ThrivePoint High School, recognised as Top Online Charter High School 2026, structures online education around personalised pacing and coaching systems tailored to modern learners. The importance of institutional leadership is reflected in Wendell Godwin, President of East Central University, who is recognised among the Top 10 University Presidents 2026 for advancing affordability, enrollment growth and technology-driven student engagement.
Perspectives from education leaders on this issue further reinforce the shift toward applied and measurable learning models. Marc Brown, Executive Director of the J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute at the University of Utah, highlights how experiential learning strengthens student engagement beyond conventional classroom instruction. Anthony Dougherty, Director of Professional Development at The School District of Palm Beach County, emphasises that measurable educational improvement depends on targeted training, continuous coaching and long-term implementation support.
The institutions and leaders featured in this issue reflect how education is increasingly being structured around engagement, flexibility and real-world outcomes. We invite our readers to explore the insights presented throughout this edition.
