Minneapolis Public Schools’ Post

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, a pivotal moment in our nation's history that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. As we reflect on the progress made since 1954, we also recognize the ongoing challenges in achieving true educational equity. At Baiza and Associates, we are dedicated to continuing the fight for educational justice through our comprehensive work in leadership and school transformation. We believe that every student deserves access to high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our team works closely with schools and districts to implement strategies that foster inclusive, equitable, and high-performing educational environments. Through leadership development, professional learning, and data-driven decision-making, we help educators create systems that support all students in reaching their full potential. As we honor this historic anniversary, let us reaffirm our commitment to the principles of equality and justice that Brown vs. Board of Education embodies. Together, we can build a brighter future for all students. #EducationEquity #BrownvBoard70 #Leadership #SchoolTransformation #EdLeadership #EquityInEducation #BaizaAndAssociates

We’re absolutely sure that Baron R. Davis, Ph.D.’s keynotes at ASU+GSV Summit this week will get people thinking. And we say that because his recent op-ed for EdPost—co-authored with Institute for Education Innovation CEO and Founder Doug Roberts—got *us* thinking about what’s behind the exodus of #superintendents and what education leaders can do about it. https://lnkd.in/eEZqHqTH   It’s an honor to work with Dr. Davis, an award-winning #education #leader, former superintendent and high school principal, and CEO and founder of The Noegenesis Group.   In the piece titled “Support Superintendents: Build a Culture of Trust and Stop Turnover, they write, “As devastating as the past four years have been for superintendents, hope is on the horizon. To create meaningful, long-lasting change, it will require a collective effort from communities, educators, and board members.”   They include three key steps for ending the discord and upheaval: 1. Revisit the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion #DEI 2. Bring back bipartisanship to school boards 3. Support and uplift women and leaders of color   Their conclusion: “We’re at a critical crossroads. Political discourse must take a backseat to communication, empathy, and trust to create a culture of respect that flows throughout the district.”   #Education #K12 #ThoughtLeadership #Leaders  

A powerful read! This occurred at my school this year. We began the year with a stock of highly qualified Black woman teachers who were pushed out and replaced by substitute teachers. I watched in horror as my colleagues left due to harrassment, unsafe work conditions, and a lack of support. During the course of transition and for a long period of time, what we were left with was a mostly white substitute staff. I endured countless conversations rife with deficit thinking and stereotypical ideals about these mostly Black and Brown girls: what they were capable of, who they’ll eventually become, what they didn’t know. Some of those same teachers criticized those who left to preserve their mental health and wellness due to poor leadership who spent more time demeaning us. I stuck around because I wanted my students to have some sort of constant—now I’m on “leave” pending an “investigation” into my “allegations” about a hostile work environment that was a constant fight to do my job as an educator. Now my girls are down one less passionate Black teacher in a predominately Black school. No matter what the research says, many of our school will choose the cheapest, most unqualified, and least effective route rather to recruit teachers who will eventually fail our children as they cannot and will not provide them with a context about the world that Is vastly different for Black children. My observation: the goal is not to best educate students of color, prepare them for the real world or make them more secure in themselves. It is to ingratiate adults who have lifestyles to maintain. This is why the Black Teacher Project is so important! 👩🏾🏫👩🏾🏫👩🏾🏫👩🏾🏫👩🏾🏫👩🏾🏫 And just so y’all know: We are out here! ✊🏿 We are worthy! ✊🏿 And We are ready! ✊🏿

This week's Thoughtful Thursday question explores the connection between a collective mission and vision for student experience, and the impact on educational justice. For more guiding questions about creating equitable school communities, check out CEL's 4 Dimensions of School Leadership: https://hubs.ly/Q02hKNxh0

Learn how states are using Public School Strong to train tens of thousands of leaders and build teams of 3 or more leaders in every school district to engage in their local school board, help build statewide power to stop voucher expansion and use deep canvassing to promote, protect and strengthen public education.

The Role of Trustees in Higher Education In this week's episode, Jeff and Michael engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Chris Romer, ACE, IOM, Board Member at Colorado Mountain College, and Jane Scaccetti, trustee at Temple University, about the critical role trustees play in shaping the future of higher education. Topics discussed: - How colleges can demonstrate their value proposition through industry alignment and community partnerships - The significance of board diversity and transparency in effective governance - Strategies for navigating the line between governance and management - Adapting to the evolving landscape of college athletics, including NIL rights and the transfer portal - How regional public universities can secure resources and better serve their students Whether you're a current trustee, aspiring board member, or passionate about the future of higher education, this episode offers valuable insights and ideas to help you navigate the complex challenges facing the sector. Listen now and discover the vital role trustees play in driving innovation, ensuring sustainability, and promoting student success in higher education. This episode is made possible with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as part of their commitment to promoting access, affordability, and success in higher education. #highered #trustees #leadership #governance #collegeathletics #highereducation

Great article highlighting some of the challenges education systems are facing. One thing remains true, the value of the college degree remains strong. One with credentials demonstrating competency in certain areas even stronger. Excited to see what are faculty accomplish this year in expanding the college’s offerings!

"You need to identify the next group of leaders, moving forward because we have 60 more schools to build, and we need all those principles. We're gonna have to develop those folks from the inside..." I sat down with Christopher Hoffman, Superintendent of Elf Grove Unified School District this week on More Than A Test! Christopher Hoffman is deeply embedded in the educational framework of Elk Grove, a geographically extensive and culturally diverse city. As a key figure in the local education system, he oversees an expansive network of 68 schools that cater to a diverse student population of 63,000 children. Under his leadership, the district is ambitiously planning for the future with commitments to construct an additional 60 schools, strategizing their locations to accommodate the city's ongoing growth! The episode is now live so be sure to check it out! Watch: https://lnkd.in/gpexydsX Listen: https://vist.ly/y25t Key Takeaways: - Investing in People: Both leaders and educators must continually evolve to meet the needs of our diverse student body. Implementing the outward mindset from the Arbinger Institute, Christopher uses this to better align the work with the hopes, dreams, and challenges of every individual in our community. - Importance of Decision Making: During the pandemic, tough decisions were essential. With the support of labor unions and trust in leadership, Christopher was able to swiftly adjust the school calendar to prioritize the health and safety of his students and staff, showcasing the strength of their prepared relationships. - Recognizing and Respecting Diversity: As one of the most diverse school districts in the nation, Elk Grove sees firsthand the richness that varied backgrounds bring to the educational experience, emphasizing why we must continue to accommodate and celebrate this diversity in every aspect of our operations.

Local school boards establish policies and practices that have an incredible effect on student outcomes and student experience. So, what characteristics ensure they make a positive impact? Effective trustees understand their role boundaries, have a clear student focus, take a data-driven approach, hold the administration and themselves accountable, and exhibit strong community leadership. Great school board trustees reimagine policy, practice, and resources to ensure that every child has the support they need to achieve their boldest dreams. Learn more → https://lnkd.in/gyVuceiH

Yesterday, we held the final convening of the East Side Alliance Transformation Network, a four-year partnership of nine schools in San Jose, CA. The network focused on improvement in middle grades math for the first two years and whole-school transformation for the final two years. Partners is very proud to have supported collective action to improve on-track outcomes for students on the East Side. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll share highlights from the convening including opening remarks from Glenn VanderZee, superintendent of the East Side Union High School District; our honoring of Oak Grove School District Superintendent Jose L. Manzo, who is retiring at the end of the school year; and recognition of five individuals who’ve been awarded scholarships to support them as they earn their administrative services credential and become even stronger results-oriented change agents (ROCAs). In addition, we’ll share the reflections of the school teams that were the heroes of this four-year journey. Because Partners believes in the power of story-telling as a way for schools to capture their continuous-improvement work and spread successful practices, we invited each team to encapsulate their growth in five-minute Ignite presentations. For example, pictured below is the team from Davis Intermediate – Ginelyn Kudsi, Jose Acosta, and Rachel Pike – who reflected on several improvement efforts over the past four years, including a refinement of professional learning communities that has resulted in greater teacher engagement and agency, increased collaboration among teachers of different grades, and improved student-teacher relationships. The Davis team’s story is just one example; stay tuned for more! #education #equity #EducationEquity #K12Education #EducationalLeadership #EducationForAll #ProfessionalDevelopment #StorytellingForChange