Partners in School Innovation

One of the things I miss most about Partners is the brilliant people I had the privilege of working with in the organization and in the schools and districts I supported. I'm joining the Alumni Network* to maintain connections and learn with and from all these amazing people! Emily Schriber - Director of Design, English Language Arts at Leading Educators *The Partners in School Innovation Alumni Network is a community of practice for former employees and former clients in w...hich we support one another by sharing knowledge, resources, and connections. Sign-up is quick and easy here: https://lnkd.in/g8T8EFj. If you have questions, please email Sanee Nashashibi at [email protected].

"I am joining Partners’ Alumni Network to stay connected to and learn from a group of like-minded, equity-driven educators who are applying the cutting-edge principles of improvement science in their daily practice to better serve our country’s most marginalized students and families." Tim Burke - Improvement Advisor at Marshall Street Initiatives

Upon receiving an invitation to join Partners in School Innovation’s Alumni Network, I felt an immediate sense of excitement. Although I carry the frameworks, conversations, and experiences from my time at Partners with me in my current work as a principal, I didn't realize how much I needed this network. I am excited to reconnect with former colleagues and school partners, to have access to equity-centered tools and resources, and to be immersed in a community of the most talented educators working for equity across the nation. Thank you for another way of putting your shoulder to our wheel! Viviana Cabrales Garcia - Principal of Dorsa Elementary School in Alum Rock Union Elementary School District

"Partners has always been about learning, first and foremost. I look forward to learning with alumni who understand that real change and results happen when we acknowledge, appreciate, and support the human experience that comes with any change." Shehz Ali - Consultant in leadership development, training, and coaching

"I’m joining the Partners in School Innovation Alumni Network because I love the idea of discussing current and relevant topics with other educators across the country. It’s exciting to have a safe space to discuss, rumble with, and problem-solve today's most frustrating issues. I truly look forward to taking courses, chatting over coffee, and sharing ideas." Amber Andrade - Elementary School Principal at Morgan Hill Unified School District

We’re excited to announce the launch of our Partners in School Innovation Alumni Network, a community of practice for former employees and former clients. Together, we will continue building our capacity as results-oriented change agents! We’re leveraging a social and learning platform called Mighty Networks to interact virtually. On this platform, we’ll support one another by sharing knowledge, resources, and connections. We invite our former colleagues and partners to join us by signing up with the link below. We look forward to co-constructing this powerful community of practice. Sign-up is quick and easy here: https://tinyurl.com/yxzro8de. If you have questions, please email Sanee Nashashibi at [email protected]. Over the next few days we’ll be highlighting some of the alumni who have already signed up!

Two alumni of Partners in School Innovation, along with a third colleague, have recently published Identity Safe Classrooms, Grades 6-12, which recommends practices for secondary educators to implement so that students facing negative stereotypes will be "seen," accepted, and valued for who and what they are. The book is very thoughtful and practical; new and veteran educators alike will find it very useful. To learn more about the book, click here: https://tinyurl.com/y4o46ctp.

Educational leaders of the San Francisco Bay Area: The California Department of Education (CDE) announced this week the availability of $20K grants for educator trainings to combat hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice. With a long history of working for educational equity, Partners in School Innovation stands ready to support you in providing this training. If you would like to apply for a grant, complete the Google form (https://lnkd.in/gD9As83) and submit... it asap--the first round of applications will be reviewed after Monday, September 28. If your application is approved, you will be required to report on the impact of the grant. Please email Cynthia Ho, Directing Improvement Partner, at [email protected] if you are interested in partnering with us on this important work.

Meghan Cullinan is a middle grades math teacher and member of one of our networks for school improvement in Philadelphia. Yesterday she wrote this message to our Math Network Lead, Noah M. Wager: I've been reflecting a lot on my teaching journey and I wanted to thank you for connecting me with so many individuals working in the math community last school year. It has led to many exciting opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. I am so excited to grow as a leader in the larger math district community and I just wanted to offer many thanks to you for supporting me in my teaching journey! As we start another virtual year, I'm sure there will be many new challenges, but I am looking forward to future collaboration and new opportunities.

Partners in School Innovation is proud to announce that its CEO, Derek Mitchell, Ph.D., has been elected to the board of trustees of the California Academy of Sciences! Dr. Mitchell is joining a group of highly accomplished individuals to help lead a prestigious organization during a period of great change. Everyone who knows Derek knows that he will help the Academy become an even greater force for equity. Congratulations, Derek!

We’re excited to partner with educators in Santa Clara County and Philadelphia to ensure that our most vulnerable students not only make up for time lost to this pandemic but are catapulted to a higher level of achievement than we thought possible, says Derek Mitchell, Partners CEO. Working with our partners in the Bay Area and Philly, we’ll boost achievement for low-income students of color, build educator capacity to address the systemic inequities magnified by the pandemic, and help all students succeed.

Today we are thrilled to announce two new partnerships with school districts in Santa Clara County, California and Philadelphia, where we’ll work to increase the number of low-income students of color who are on track for college and career success and address inequities made worse by the pandemic. Congratulations to the new districts and thank you to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for making our new partnerships possible!

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, the team at Partners in School Innovation expresses gratitude to all the dedicated teachers across the country! #teacherappreciationweek