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multi-classroom leadership

With Leandro Report, Hope for North Carolina’s Students

December 11, 2019

By Public Impact, December 11, 2019

As educators, legislators, business leaders, and others gathered for a summit on building a sorely needed pipeline of teachers of color for North Carolina, the long-awaited Leandro report hit the wires. Ordered by Judge David Lee, the report from WestEd spells out how the state can meet its constitutional obligation to provide a “sound, basic” education for every North Carolina child.

At Public Impact, we’re grateful for the work of so many who got the case to this point: for the judges who kept pressing to meet students’ needs; the lawyers and many state and local leaders who, often behind the scenes, fought for justice through this case; the numerous researchers who dug deep to find the best solutions; and the educators included in their research.

Yearlong Residencies Put Aspiring Teachers from Ector County and Midland ISDs on Teams Led By Excellent Teachers

December 9, 2019

By Public Impact, December 9, 2019

For two Texas districts—Ector County ISD and Midland ISD—teacher shortages present an immense and ongoing challenge: Combined, the districts began the school year with 500 teacher vacancies. To give new teachers a jump-start into the profession, the districts are implementing Opportunity Culture with paid teacher residencies in partnership with the University of Texas Permian Basin  (UT Permian Basin). UT Permian Basin and its partner schools are the newest members in the University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP).

Building Team Cohesion: Opportunity Culture® Fellows Share Strategies

October 30, 2019

By Margaret High, October 30, 2019 

How can multi-classroom leaders (MCLs) build the cohesion of their teaching teams? A panel of five Opportunity Culture Fellows tackled this question—a hot topic among MCLs­—with suggestions that focused on the joy of team leadership as well as how to address challenges with team members.

“My two things are genuinely caring about the people as individuals and as teachers. …And then really not being a know-it-all,” one panelist said. “I’m not coming into the classroom to make you into me. I’m coming in here to make you a better version of you.”

Stephanie Dean: Opportunity Culture®—Extending the Reach of Excellent Teachers

October 28, 2019

From The Principal Center, October 28, 2019, by Justin Baeder, PhD

Stephanie Dean, vice president of strategic policy advising and a senior consulting manager, discusses Opportunity Culture for the Principal Center Radio. Listen here.

Stephanie Dean, vice president of strategic policy advising and a senior consulting manager, discusses Opportunity Culture for the Principal Center Radio. Listen here.

Be the Bridge: How Multi-Classroom Leaders Smooth Teacher-Administrator Communication

September 3, 2019

By Brandon Warren, September 3, 2019

Teachers, how many times has this happened to you?

The classroom door opens, and in comes the principal, maybe with an assistant principal in tow. Your stomach plunges as you think, “Oh my goodness, they’re here, what are they looking for, what do they like, what don’t they like?” Your purpose in teaching that day flies out of your head, and it’s all downhill from there.

How Can We Extend the Reach of Great Teachers? A Q&A with Stephanie Dean on Opportunity Culture®

August 14, 2019

From Ahead of the Heard, August 19, 2019, by Chad Aldeman

How should we train teachers? How do we ensure that all students have access to great teaching? I reached out to Stephanie Dean, the vice president of strategic policy advising and a senior consulting manager at Public Impact. In that role, Dean is working with schools and districts to implement what they call “Opportunity Culture,” a way to re-organize schools into collaborative leadership teams. 

How to Reach Far More Young Children with Excellent Teaching

August 1, 2019

By Sharon Kebschull Barrett, August 1, 2019

What if far more children ages 0–5 who are in early childhood education and care settings had consistent access to excellent teaching? In these critical developmental years, young children—especially those who have fewer educational and developmental advantages outside of formal settings—need excellent teaching every year to fulfill their potential.

Opportunity Culture® News: Summer Newsletter, Remotely Located Teacher Leadership

June 7, 2019

By Paola Gilliam, June 7, 2019

As the school year wraps up and summer planning begins, check out these new and noteworthy posts about Opportunity Culture resources, schools, and educators. Summer Opportunity Culture Newsletter: We publish a quarterly newsletter for educators full of resources, tools, news about Opportunity Culture, and columns by Opportunity Culture educators.

First Look: Remotely Located Teacher Leadership

May 8, 2019

From EdNC, May 8, 2019, by Sharon Kebschull Barrett

This semester, the College Board and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) joined with Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture initiative to test the remotely located Multi-Classroom Leadership model: An excellent NCSSM teacher would lead a small team of teachers spread across rural North Carolina districts, which often lack enough teachers who are prepared to ensure student success in advanced classes.