When designing and differentiating learning experiences for their students, educators often miss opportunities to maximize students' learning potential in the classroom. backstory asks the question, "how might we leverage design thinking to cultivate educator empathy so they may design more personalized learning experiences for their students?" backstory is intended to be used individually or in a professional development setting. This project utilizes design thinking, empathy mapping, and student-centered language to help educators identify and design learning opportunities for their students.