PIE Network

??Exciting News!?? Announcing Leadership Institute Cohort 9! Together, these 22 remarkable leaders bring rich layers of diversity across experience, race, politics, and strategy. Here are some fast facts about Cohort 9: ??This cohort boasts the highest percentage of executive directors ever, a testament to the caliber of leaders committed to driving positive change in their states and communities. ??Cohort 9 also includes 14 PIE Network member organizations participating in Leadership Institute for the very first time. ??Alumni tell us that this is some of the most powerful and life-changing professional development they’ve experienced. To date, we’ve supported 184 alumni, 96% of whom have grown in their existing roles, started new enterprises, and/or gone on to serve in significant state or national government leadership. Leadership Institute fosters collaboration and empowers leaders to navigate complex challenges with resilience and ingenuity. Join us in celebrating Cohort 9 as they embark on what alumni call a transformative journey of growth, learning, and collaboration.

Rural students deserve college and career readiness, and we're taking every opportunity to amplify this mission. This week Marty Meehan and Javier Reyes wrote about the need to double-down on these initiatives in their Boston Globe opinion piece for Boston Globe Media. They highlighted how our partnerships with organizations like the Rural Schools Innovation Zone in Texas, Rural Alliance Zone-32 in Indiana, and the Fremont Multidistrict Initiative in Colorado are making a difference: "Ideally, more rural districts will join forces to prioritize early college. Other states have taken a strength-in-numbers approach to solving the problems rural districts face. Colorado, Indiana, and Texas created rural school district alliances. In Colorado, a coalition of nine rural districts partnered with higher education and business leaders to expand college and career pathways, tapping... Empower Schools to help. Using local job market data, academic counselors advise students on the career and college-level classes they could pursue to align with high-wage job prospects in the region. Students earn workforce certificates, associate’s degrees, and often land job offers before they graduate [high school.]" https://lnkd.in/eUVq4r_j.

“These are my people” … I say this every time I find myself among my PIE Network cohort. They push my thinking, set a higher bar for me (in work and play), and they always show up. I entered this fellowship thinking I’d gain some professional connections, and I did, but even better this group of bipartisan education leaders from across the country became close friends. We call one another at life crossroads, we hold hands as we dive head first into the deep end, we carve space for disagreement and expansion. I’ve learned so much from this group over the last two years and they consistently show up when I need a hand or thought partner. Cheers to fellowship and Cohort 7! Adam Ezring Brenda Bautsch Dickhoner, Ph.D. Shannon Nicholas Mohan Sivaloganathan Cara Stillings Candal Brenda Bautsch Dickhoner, Ph.D. Aleah Guthrie Crystal McQueen-Taylor Janel "Jay" Artis- Wright Thomas Maffai Tafshier Kim Cosby Bonnie Stewart Holliday Kristin Pollock

PIE Network Summit 2024 was a success!? Congratulations to the winners of the annual Eddies Awards, all of whom are turning the tide of education. ??Massachusetts Literacy Coalition (Democrats for Education Reform Massachusetts, EdTrust, ExcelinEd, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Parents Union Massachusetts, and Teach Plus Massachusetts) won Best Collaboration, honoring the hard work of a coalition that organized artfully to support early childhood literacy. ??The Best Defense award went to Defending Data Transparency and Accountability in Minnesota (EdAllies, Educators for Excellence, Great MN Schools), to highlight their strategic defense of important accountability policies to keep data relevant, timely, and accessible to Minnesota educators and families, benefiting MN students. ??Alabama’s Literacy Transformation (A+ Education Partnership, ExcelinEd) took home the award for Best Implementation, which highlighted the five years of the necessary implementation work, support, and collaboration to that ensure that Alabama literacy policies led to sustained impact for students.? ??Spotlight Schools: High-Poverty Schools That Are Raising The Bar (Democrats for Education Reform) won in the Most Actionable Tools & Research category, for their resource that supports school leaders, policy makers, and advocates to improve their schools using evidence-based strategies, improving student outcomes, particularly in areas of concentrated poverty. ??The Suzanne Kubach PIE Network Weaver of the Year award honors an individual leader who embodies the “give and get” spirit of PIE Network. Awardees consistently work to build and strengthen the impact of the Network and the sector. This year’s winner was Gini Pupo-Walker, of EdTrust Tennessee, whose influence has been such a shining light across the PIE Network and beyond. ??This year’s Game Changer Campaign of the Year is Development and Passage of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula (Mississippi First and Teach Plus Mississippi), recognizing an advocacy campaign that tackled big problems and achieved a new, game-changing funding formula for Mississippi students.? If you’re looking for inspiration for your next policy win, check out more information about the winning campaigns and all the finalists here. https://lnkd.in/dSk8zhpq

PIE Network Summit is a place to connect. Last year, our members told us that “The Network feels like family!” This year at our family reunion, you will find: ??Over 400 participants from across our Network ??The Eddies dinner and awards which celebrate strategic advocacy that is driving impactful policy change across our country ??Gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean ??Opportunities to connect and reconnect to impact change in our education policy environment ?#PIESummit24

The Eddies help show progress for students and the power of advocacy—a message that feels more important than ever. We’ve all seen the data calling us to action: far too many students are struggling in COVID’s wake, gaps are wider, budgets are tighter (especially as ESSER funds fade away), enrollments are declining, and the tomorrow in which today’s students will need to thrive is rapidly changing. You can help PIE Network shine a light on the crucial work of advocates by doing two things: ?? - NOMINATE the work of your team or peers for a 2024 Eddie by July 19! PIE Network members, check the latest Rapid Response email for the link to nominate outstanding policy and advocacy from across the Network. ?? - VOTE for the Network’s favorite pie by July 10! For the first time, we will use ranked-choice voting to determine the winners in each category. This shift comes from many conversations with Network leaders, including the 2024 Eddies Nomination Committee, to ensure that voting captures the full extent of members’ views. To practice, we pose what could be the most hotly contested question the Network has ever considered. What is your favorite pie? Vote by July 10. https://lnkd.in/eEeSs9pT