A district with strong use of—and strong support for—Opportunity Culture® models was named district of the year. Congratulations to Ector County ISD in Odessa, Texas! K–12 Dive reported that the percentage of high school seniors considered prepared for postsecondary success jumped from 56% to 88% between 2019 and…
Sharon Kebschull Barrett
Congratulating K-12 Dive District of the Year, Ector County ISD
A teaching team leader instructs students in small-group tutoring sessions in 2022 in Ector County ISD. Educators in the team leader role lead small teaching teams while continuing to teach students part of the time. Congratulations to K-12 Dive District of the Year...
Leading in Growth and Small Groups: Lessons From Winchester
At John Kerr Elementary in Winchester, Virginia, teaching team leader Brandi Shirley (left) and Reach Associate™ Debra James lead small-group instruction. In October, Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason van Heukelum got good news from the latest Virginia...
366 Schools in 8 States Receive Certified Status
We are excited to announce that 366 schools in 28 districts in eight states have been awarded the new "Certified Opportunity Culture School™, Provisional Level, 2023–24" designation! Showing their commitment to reaching all students with excellent teaching,...
Teach Plus Report Highlights New Mexico School Using Opportunity Culture® Roles
In a new report this summer, Teach Plus took a look at innovation in New Mexico districts, and highlighted a Carlsbad Municipal Schools middle school seeing success with student growth from its Opportunity Culture® teaching teams! Read what P.R. Leyva Middle School...
Free Webinar: Three Keys to Getting Every Educator a Coach
In schools using Opportunity Culture® staffing models, small teaching teams aim to provide every educator with a great coach—the team leader. What can administrators do to support these teacher-leaders in their new coaching roles? Join us June 27 for a free webinar to learn about three keys to achieving widespread but personalized coaching and a platform to support it.
Because Kids Can’t Wait: Expanding Access to Opportunity Culture® Design
At Public Impact®, we feel the “kids can’t wait” urgency—we know all kids deserve the learning results that our Opportunity Culture® strategic staffing models have been proven to produce. So we are taking steps to make our support for school systems more accessible. With a new online platform and certification process, schools and districts can spread the results to many more students and educators…
Because Kids Can’t Wait: Use Proven Teaching Teams Throughout Schools and Districts
With a decade of successful implementation behind us, here’s one thing we know: Opportunity Culture®strategic staffing is long past the pilot phase. Studies show the power of Opportunity Culture®roles and teaching teams, along with our own continual data tracking. That research and data focuses us on a key to success for 2024–25: reaching all students with Multi-Classroom Leadership™ teams…
Because Kids Can’t Wait: Follow 5 Crucial Strategic Staffing Principles
We’re closing out our celebration of the first decade of the Opportunity Culture® initiative—going from a few pioneering schools and districts to the nearly 200,000 students who will be reached next year by excellent teaching. We rejoice over the student learning growth seen so far, the $57.9 million in extra pay that has gone to educators, and the teacher support and collaboration that has been a hallmark of this initiative since day 1…
Keeping Advanced Roles Alive and Thriving: Vance County’s Experience
Before Vance County Schools began designing its Opportunity Culture® staffing models in 2017–18, the district struggled with teacher turnover and higher pay supplements offered by nearby districts. Based in Henderson, N.C., the district began implementing the models in three elementary schools the following year to serve as “incubators of innovation” before expanding into four more schools…