Sara deLeeuw

WHEN STUDENT OUTCOMES MUST ‘TURNAROUND’: A TBC CASE STUDY CHALLENGE George Smith faced the most significant leadership challenge of his career after accepting his first principalship at Mitchell High, a public high school of 800 students located in Colorado Springs, CO. In 2019, Mitchell was already on Colorado’s watchlist for potential closure. Student results were extremely poor in evidence-based reading, writing and math. By 2022, Mitchell was named a ‘turnaround school’ due to its poor reputation, negative publicity and declining enrollment. To meet stakeholder expectations, George worked 70+ hours/wk during his first summer, (no vacation), to develop the school’s improvement plan, while trying to hire a staff of certified teachers. MINDSET SHIFT After a grueling first year, George attended The Breakthrough Coach Program in June 2023 and had an epiphany! He realized that he would never be able to turn Mitchell around by working solo and running himself into the ground. He made the decision to implement The Breakthrough Coach system immediately. SOLUTION George let go of doing work that was irrelevant to improving student performance - like managing his own calendar, scheduling appointments, placing catering orders, and creating PD slide shows. Instead, he spent time training and developing his leadership team to run the school. He promoted his secretary to the role of "Executive Assistant," and started entrusting her with planning and managing his workload. They met daily, which enabled him to share his priorities, provide her with the necessary info to manage his schedule, and coach her on how to address office tasks and requests. This freed him up to further focus on the instructional leadership that only he could do. OUTCOMES The Breakthrough Coach's impact on George’s leadership has been powerful. Mitchell has seen significant improvements in both reading and math with median growth percentile increases from 47 to 67 in reading, and 48 to 55 in math. The school’s status has gone from “Turnaround” to “Priority Improvement." George consistently spends 12 hours a week observing instruction and supporting teachers, which has contributed to a 20 point increase in the school’s Teacher-Principal trust score, and has caused staff retention rates to soar from 50 to 92% in just two years. George feels highly accomplished, but no longer logs more than 50 hours a week at work. CONCLUSION George is proud of his professional growth and his contribution to Mitchell's results. He is also finally experiencing work-life balance, spending time with his wife and children, and taking care of himself - all of which he considers his most significant breakthroughs. Take the first step towards causing breakthroughs in your time, results and satisfaction. Contact The Breakthrough Coach today! #instructionalleadership #turnaroundschools #schoolleadershipburnout #teacherretention #schoolleaderwellbeing

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https://lnkd.in/gkTUVxyh In examining the recent agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom and California's largest teachers union, it's important to consider its potential implications beyond the education sector. One significant concern revolves around the potential inflationary pressures this deal might exert on the state's economy. Here's a breakdown of how this agreement could contribute to inflation and negatively impact small businesses while potentially benefiting large corporations: Inflationary Pressures: By committing to increased future funding for schools, the state is essentially injecting more money into the economy. This influx of funds, especially when not accompanied by corresponding increases in productivity, can drive up prices across various sectors. With a substantial portion of the state budget allocated to education, the additional spending could create demand-pull inflation, where increased consumer demand outpaces the supply of goods and services, leading to rising prices. Impact on Small Businesses: Small businesses, often operating on thinner profit margins compared to larger corporations, may bear the brunt of inflationary pressures. As the cost of goods and services rises, small businesses may face increased operating expenses, including higher wages to retain employees amidst inflation. Additionally, rising prices could dampen consumer spending, affecting the revenue streams of small businesses reliant on local consumer activity. This scenario could potentially lead to business closures, reduced investment, and job losses within the small business sector. Benefit to Large Corporations: Conversely, large corporations, equipped with greater financial resources and market dominance, may be better positioned to weather inflationary conditions. In fact, some large corporations may even benefit from inflation, as they can adjust prices to maintain profit margins and leverage economies of scale to mitigate rising costs. Moreover, large corporations often have access to capital markets and diversified revenue streams, enabling them to adapt to changing economic conditions more effectively than small businesses. Unequal Impact: This agreement may exacerbate existing inequalities between small businesses and large corporations. Small businesses, lacking the resources and bargaining power of their larger counterparts, may struggle to absorb the impact of inflation, while large corporations could potentially capitalize on the economic environment to further consolidate their market share and influence. In summary, while the agreement between Governor Newsom and the teachers union aims to address education funding challenges, its potential inflationary effects could have broader repercussions for the state economy, particularly for small businesses.

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Despite STEM to the Future scaling up significantly—reaching over 30,000 kids across California, hitting our fundraising goals months ahead of schedule, and completely revamping our curriculum with a focus on social justice standards—I've come to a crucial realization: What got us here won't necessarily get us to where we want to go. While there are constant suggestions to expand our in-school programs to more states and teach more kids, that’s not the type of growth we are pursuing. Instead, we're committed to deepening the impact of our programs and refining how we operate internally to sustain this growth. If we only focus on scaling outward rather than deepening, how can we ensure the quality of our work and the wellness of our team? This doesn’t mean increasing the workload for our dedicated team; rather, it's about honing our focus to ensure that each team member can bring their best self to their role and that our programs do more than just expand—they improve in quality and depth. To support this, we're rolling out new initiatives like a scalable benefits program, including housing and wellness stipends (more details coming soon!), hiring additional staff to balance the workload, and revamping our strategy to increase the dosage and depth of our programs. As we grow, it’s crucial that we enhance not only our external outputs but also our internal supports, ensuring our team isn't just doing more, but doing better with a sharper, more targeted focus. For all the nonprofit leaders out there, remember: scaling up should never mean watering down our efforts. Let’s ensure our growth makes us more effective and is actually the growth the community wants and needs. #PlantingtheSeed #growth #nonprofits

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Teachers' working conditions are the students' learning conditions. At this stage of my career, one of my central goals is simple: bring JOY back to the profession of education and learning. My colleague Mary Laski at ASU's Next Education Workforce shared some findings that suggest the promise of team-based staffing models to deliver on that goal. Read on! https://lnkd.in/g_tWEw9T

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I’m very lucky to partner with school leaders of all kinds - district schools, charter schools, religious schools, private schools…in rural settings, big cities…in low-income communities, and high SES districts. All across the country. There are differences, for sure, but the commonalities far outweigh them: - All leaders support teacher growth and development and navigate varying complexities associated with that aspect of the role. - All leaders are out front leading change initiatives, and experience varying degrees of enthusiasm & resistance. - All leaders are working in communities where opinions are strongly expressed and student needs are many. Afterall, it is 2024. We have A LOT in common with one another, and now more than ever we need one another for support. And no one is better positioned to help school leaders better than *other* school leaders. New work combining collaboration + coaching coming soon!! #SchoolLeaders #Leadership #SchoolPrincipal #SchoolSuperintendents #Coaching #Collaboration

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This is what happens when school districts partner with CORE's Curriculum Sevice.💜 #HQIM #Equity #GLEAM #allstudents #instructionalleaders #curriculum #curriculumimplementation #teachers

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Heading to the NACE24 (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Conference in Phoenix next week! Send me a message if you want to grab coffee, catch up, and hear about what Teachers College, Columbia University students & alumni can bring to your organization! #NACE24

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Good and semi-good Intentions don’t manifest into the actions we desire. Why? You have to read this research article to explore further. #diversity #retainandrecruit #culturematters

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�� Every single second matters when it comes to school safety. It's beyond the threat of an active shooter; it's about addressing disruptive behavior in class, fights, and fatal incidents involving weapons. 👨‍✈️ SROs, Campus police, and weapons detections aren't always the answer. The real SOLUTION lies in a rapid response to emergencies, whether it's a medical issue, an active threat, or a disruptive student or parent. ⚡ CENTEGIX Crisis Alert has proven to be a lifesaving tool for school districts nationwide. It's the essential solution that ALL school districts require to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone. It's a one of a kind solution! ➡ Click on the link to learn how Clark County School District in Nevada is partnering with Centegix. https://lnkd.in/gitzn6vd #SchoolSafety #EmergencyResponse #SafetyFirst #priorities California School Boards Association California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators California Association of Asian and Pasifika Leaders in Education (CAAPLE)Alberto Carvalho Dr. Sam Buenrostro Mauricio Arellano Pedro Salcido Soheil Katal Edwin Gomez, Ed.D. Miki Rene Inbody Reggie Thompkins, Ed.D. Benjamin Churchill, Ed.D.David Miyashiro CJ Cammack Dr. Trenton Hansen Terrence Davis Dr. Alex Marrero Gustavo Balderas, D.Ed. LaTonya Goffney Council of the Great City Schools Andy Johnsen, Ed.D. Association of California School Administrators David M. Laura Battle(formerly, McGee)

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What happens if we get attendance right in #Kindergarten? Simple: we boost student outcomes for the next 12 years. Check out this NPR article highlighting a CA elementary district that's getting it right: https://lnkd.in/dg6qWNgg #edtech #edchat #learning #teaching #leadership #students #school #attendance

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New from Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University (My Alma Mater) Tracking Transfer: Community College and Four-Year Institutional Effectiveness in Broadening Bachelor’s Degree Attainment By Tatiana Velasco, John Fink, Mariel Bedoya-Guevara,  Davis Jenkins & Tania LaViolet "Years of empirical research indicate that taking dual enrollment coursework in high school can fast-track students toward completing a college degree after high school. Yet these programs often employ policies and practices that limit access to Black, Hispanic, low-income and other minoritized student populations". https://lnkd.in/eUH_KWXq 3 NYC Department of Education Early College Principals in District 17 Brooklyn, New York from CUNY and Urban Assembly Secondary Schools Science, Technology and Research Early College High School at Erasmus (17K543) 88% Black and Hispanic Students Medgar Evers College Preparatory School (17K590) 91% Black and Hispanic Students Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) (17K122) 94% Black and Hispanic Students

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I agree Shara Hegde. When the federal government put out the #FAFSAWeekOfAction, they missed the point. They decided to call on counselors to do more to get students to fill out the FAFSA. What?! This is what counselors have already been doing for months and yet FAFSA has not fixed their system. We still have students who have been unable to submit the FAFSA form because parent documents are not being accepted or are stuck in review, and that is true at high schools across the country. The last data I saw showed that at most schools fewer than five students had been able to submit compared to hundreds at the same time last year. This is not because counselors decided not to work this year! On the contrary, they have been working harder than ever but have been met with a broken interface. The FAFSA Week of Action should be a week of action on the part of the federal government to fix the system, expedite review of all applications, and call on universities across the country to further extend their deadlines for decision-making. #fafsa #financialaid #highered #firstgen

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Education Week webinar answering the key question about tutoring: how to pay for it after federal stimulus funds are done? Also, we answer questions about how to source tutors and how to schedule high impact tutoring into the school day. New Mexico, Fulton County GA, and TFA and the nonprofit StepUp Tutoring also are featured. Please view link.

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Read about an #FPBC learning management system update, a new RFT registration opportunity, and a new FPBC career opportunity in the latest edition of The Increment: https://bit.ly/3yLMSJ6

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As federal ESSER dollars dwindle, state and district K-12 education leaders are faced with tough decisions on how to best allocate limited resources to tackle learning recovery and chronic absenteeism. Should we go "broad" and support every student, or go "deep" with intensive interventions for a narrower group? Or is there a better way forward? Join Varsity Tutors, a Nerdy Company and Education Week on May 31st for a conversation with district leaders and experts to take a focused look at how schools can best: - Mobilize the tutoring infrastructure they’ve put in place. - Take advantage of recent innovations in tutoring models. - Make the most of your tutoring dollars before funding runs out. Save your spot: https://bit.ly/3QVV53g

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The recent decision by the Alameda County Board of Education to deny Hayward Collegiate Public Charter School’s request for grade level expansion is deeply concerning. This decision is perplexing and disheartening, given the remarkable achievements of the school’s students. Hayward Collegiate Public Charter School serves 99.9% scholars of color, with 60% being socioeconomically disadvantaged. The students have demonstrated outstanding performance on the annual state assessment (CAASPP): ✨ 67.56% of students met or exceeded ELA standards ✨ 64.87% of students met or exceeded math standards In stark contrast, within Hayward USD, only 33.37% of students meet or exceed ELA standards, and 19.37% meet or exceed math standards. These numbers highlight the incredible work being done at Hayward Collegiate. The vote in favor of the expansion, supported by Trustee Ken Berrick and President Janevette Cole, recognizes the importance of supporting schools that deliver exceptional results for children. It is crucial to bring this matter back to the agenda for another vote. The students at Hayward Collegiate deserve every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Supporting the expansion of a school that is clearly making a significant difference should be a priority. Let’s rally together to ensure our children receive the education they deserve. #EducationMatters #SupportOurSchools #HaywardCollegiate #AcademicExcellence #EqualityInEducation #hayward #california Alameda County Office of Education #charterschool #publicschools #publiceducation

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