How do you share the lift of success?

Leadership shouldn’t be lonely.

In the same way that new educators sometimes feel confined to their part of the “egg crate” in a school, leaders often feel more siloed as they move up in the system.?

But as partners to district leaders in dozens of cities nationwide, we see every day that challenges and solutions become clearer when people can connect with others across physical boundaries and lean on others who get it.

That was particularly true last week at the Council of the Great City Schools 21st Annual Curriculum and Instruction conference in Chicago. We were fortunate to hear firsthand how district academic, curriculum, and research leaders like you are working to sustain and accelerate improvement in a post-ESSER world.

To be clear, the uncertainty is real.

“Are we doing the right thing?”

“What else is out there that we haven’t tried?”

“How can we offer a version of school that feels worthy of our students’ time and effort so they actually want to be there?”

But there's also a powerful undercurrent of hope. Many districts celebrated their students' growth this past year, with several recovering from and surpassing pandemic losses. One such bright spot was the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

During a session called “Building the Infrastructure and Habits to ‘Rise Up’,” Chief Academic Officer Dr. Leenet Campbell-Williams shared Detroit’s powerful story of transformation through strategic investment alongside Dr. Keli Swearingen on the Leading Educators Midwest team.

“The work that we're doing right now, to be a part of it and to see it come as far as it's come, just makes me proud to be in Detroit. And oftentimes, that's not the story.”

She shared that the keys to turning around achievement in the district have been going deep on data- and evidence-driven practices, building up learning structures for the adults in the system, and systematically owning change together.

“Because we enacted a new curriculum, we had a lot of common strategies. We decided at the district level that these would be the district common [focus and levers] for all schools. We want to grow academic growth and proficiency, so that's strong Tier 1 instruction for all learners, and that's the what and the how all mixed into how we're going to do that.”

To be clear, transformation hasn’t happened overnight. It’s taken decades of sustained work— and some setbacks—but leaders and educators are working intentionally to keep moving in the same direction. We look forward to sharing more about Detroit’s journey soon.

This newsletter highlights perspectives, stories, and tools for sharing the lift. Together, we can tackle the challenges ahead and build on the real momentum you are fueling in your community. We’re here for you.

Unpacking Conditions:? Fostering Shared Ownership

Great strides in education rarely happen in isolation. When everyone—teachers, leaders, and the community—contributes to a strong instructional vision, it creates a shared commitment to student success. While there may be different perspectives, working together ensures that everyone invested in the solution creates a lasting impact, especially in these times of change.?

As planning for the SY 24-25 continues this summer, take a minute to learn about the six practical needs that leaders must address to cultivate shared ownership in an instructional vision.

Read 6 Steps to Cultivate Shared Ownership.

Partner Voice:?Activating a Common Vision for Excellent Education

Just like you need to know the destination when you’re taking a trip, school systems need a shared vision to best serve their students. Without one, how do you know where you want to go??

Dr. Jennifer Slanger, director of teaching and learning at Wyoming Public Schools in Michigan, shares how WPS intentionally included not just district leaders but also school leaders, instructional coaches, and teachers in setting an instructional vision for their district.?

She also shares the most important group to get input from…the students.

Hear from Dr. Slanger.

Want to learn more about setting an instructional vision for your school?

Our framework, Open Up Opportunity, puts you in the driver’s seat of your next steps as you approach interconnected instructional initiatives. Use it as a reflection tool (it includes activities you can do right now) as you think about goals for the next year and beyond.

While it was specifically designed for principals, it contains dozens of curated resources that can help you take your next step no matter where you are in your instructional journey.

Get Your Copy!

Gear up for a strong start to next school year.

Are you ready to take your next step towards your best results yet? Let's chat about your goals for next year.

Get in touch!