3Ls The Academy

Today was truly inspiring! I had the privilege of leading a principal professional learning session, with some of the best educators I know, including Kate Sugarman, Leroy Roches Gaines, Jennifer Koelling, Dr. Monica Thomas, Shelley McCray, Edgar Rodriguez-Ramirez, Alicia Arenas, Leigh Daniels & Elaina Amos-Lewis with 49 elementary principals focused on the power of Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs). These dedicated Oakland Unified School District leaders are leaning into the critical work of building strong teams, leading instruction, and developing equitable, antiracist learning cultures for all students. We explored how ILTs serve as the engine of school improvement and student success. By leveraging collective expertise and fostering shared ownership, these teams are transforming schools from the inside out. Some key takeaways: • ILTs are an antiracist practice, ensuring multiple voices are heard, especially those historically marginalized • Distributed leadership builds capacity across the school and challenges the status quo • Strong ILTs align with data-driven cycles of improvement, from diagnostic analysis to action planning I was blown away by the principals' commitment to the "Learn It, Expect It, Monitor It, Support It" implementation framework. They're truly embracing Doug Reeves' wisdom: "Leaders must concentrate on a cluster of three essential practices: FOCUS, monitoring in relation to the focus, and displaying a strong sense of efficacy." To my fellow educators: How are you leveraging teams to drive instructional excellence and equity in your schools? Let's keep this vital conversation going! #EducationalLeadership #InstructionalLeadershipTeams #EquityInEducation #SchoolImprovement ---

As we kick off a brand-new school year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who have supported us on this incredible journey. Your belief in our mission, your generous contributions, and your unwavering commitment to the children and families we serve have made an extraordinary difference—and for that, I am profoundly thankful. The funds raised through our Literacy Loves Campaign have not only helped us expand our reach but have also enabled us to bring our program to a school that desperately needed it—Prescott Elementary! Prescott Elementary is a school filled with bright, eager students who, like so many others, face significant barriers to literacy. These barriers can hold them back, not just in their academic journey, but in life. But thanks to you, we now have the resources to break down those barriers. With your help, we are equipping Prescott Elementary with the tools, support, and teaching necessary to help their students achieve literacy fluency and develop a lifelong love of reading. It’s moments like these that remind me why we started 3Ls Academy in the first place. Literacy is not just a skill; it’s a lifeline. It opens doors, it creates opportunities, and it gives children the confidence to dream big and pursue those dreams. Because of your support, we’re giving these children a chance to rewrite their stories—to move from struggling with reading to thriving in school and beyond. But our work is far from over. The Literacy Loves Campaign was just the beginning. The need for literacy support in our community is great, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to meet that need. As we move forward, we will continue to rely on the generosity of our donors, the passion of our educators, and the strength of our community to bring the gift of literacy to as many children as possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a part of this journey. I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the coming year. 💖🎓