The SoLa Foundation’s Post

🔎 ➡️ Did you know Hollins University's nationally recognized study abroad program, guaranteed internship placements, and Batten Leadership Institute all serve to prepare students to be leaders in their future professions? Learn more about this featured college on CollegeXpress! #colleges #highered #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #collegesearch #collegeadmission #exploringcolleges #students #highschoolstudents #collegestudents

The Shared Leadership Network met to explore the topic of Meaningfully Involving Families and Communities. THIS IS WHAT WE LEARNED: Meaningfully involving students, families, and communities goes beyond asking for their opinions. It means intentionally involving them in the design process, actively encouraging families and community organizations to be on campus and involved in student activities, and valuing families as experts in their larger communities. Here are some examples ⬇️ ➡️ Teams devote time and funds for home visits, encouraging parent participation in some projects and internships, allowing students to gain credit while working to better their communities. ➡️ Teams decide to adopt a year-round schedule or adjust daily start and end times to better meet the needs of the students and community. ➡️ Teams advance a bilingual and bicultural program that is different from the district’s standard language immersion. ➡️ Teams decide to use a community schools model to meet the needs of the whole community, including offering medical and dental services, opening their campuses after school hours for activities and adult education, and providing social services connections. Interested in joining the Maricopa County Shared-Leadership Network? Register for free https://lnkd.in/g4fjcBtb #Shared-Leadership #Shared-LeadershipNetwork #Teacher-PoweredSchools #Teacher-Powered

Last weekend, I visited my Alma Mater, Davidson College - recently ranked top 10 best college in the nation by The Wall Street Journal, Go Cats! As an alumni board volunteer, I had the awesome opportunity to meet with student leaders at the school. My aha? We, as alumni, are seen as beacons and torchbearers! Students seek our experiences so that our paths & accomplishments can serve as inspiration. This means as an alumni community, we have a responsibility and an opportunity to support students in achieving their full potential- woah. During our session, three key themes emerged: - The importance of providing vast visibility into alumni paths toward success. - The need for regional alumni presence during student showcases. - Access to insights on how previous student groups were managed, enabling current students to learn from both successes and challenges. Call to action?! Davidson alumni, get ready to be tapped and asked to plug in! Also, any international students who were able to successfully source internships to remain in the US post-graduation, please DM me. Your guidance is requested! -- Left to right: @Christopher Anosike, Mikayla Bowens, Danielle Dory Hyppolite, Brianna Burton, Rayna McKenzie, Stacy Miruka, Kasha Salia, Chris Burton, D.Min., Jalyssa Hobbs, @Daniel Thomas, Arielle Germeus. Photo taken by Sarah Taylor <3

Now that the academic year has ended, I wanted to take some time to reflect and share how my sophomore year at UH went. I’d love to hear some insight or advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. During my sophomore year, I...  ✅ Finally decided on my double major: Entrepreneurship  ✅ Filed my degree plan for MIS and Entrepreneurship (after struggling with a pre-req class for the last three semesters)  ✅ Decided to file for a minor in Spanish for the Global Professions  ✅ Found three student organizations to join (after struggling to get involved during my freshman year)  ✅ Became president of UH PAIR (Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees) for the 2024-2025 academic year  ✅ Earned two scholarships from the Honors College for Spring 2024  ✅ Planned my first project that was community service orientated with the Bauer Honors Leadership Program and Books Between Kids  ✅ Boosted my GPA after seeing it decline since my arrival at UH  ✅ Got accepted to work as a Residential Advisor for the 2024-2025 academic year    Looking back, I realize my path hasn’t been the smoothest or predictable. It’s hard to stay motivated or positive at times. Still, I’m glad to have made progress that my freshman year didn’t see. As for what I have planned, I’d like to...  ❇️ Update my LinkedIn more often  ❇️ Explore potential career opportunities (now that I’ve decided my areas of study)  ❇️ Look into internship and research opportunities (or investigate creating a new type of project)  ❇️ Increase my involvement with community service through volunteering and project planning   ❇️ Work on my personal brand and see how I can expand my network  ❇️ Apply to more scholarships and student recognition events    I’m excited to plan out and expand on these goals over the summer, and I’d love to see just how much further I can turn things around compared to my first year. Here’s to another successful academic year! 

Today is my oldest daughter’s high school graduation. She had an incredible experience at the Charles E Smith Jewish Day School and received an exceptional education. This kid already has a #resume full of internships, work and volunteer experiences, leadership roles- you name it. She worked hard on #collegeplanning and was awarded a full academic scholarship to college- in November. She’s ready to take on the next chapter..and I have no doubt that she will exceed her own #goals, let alone mine. She’s ready…but I’m not. This is my baby girl. She taught me how to be a #mother. For 17+ years she has been with me through so many #triumphs and #challenges. And yes, many of those hard moments included #advocating and teaching her #selfadvocacy, #financialliteracy, #timemanagementskills…and so so much more. I should be ready - but I’m not. What does #mynextchapter look like? How do I parent a #collegestudent? Who am I without my “mini-me?” Yes, despite the fact that I’ve been #teaching and #coaching high school and college students since she was in kindergarten, I’m still not ready. And - that’s ok to say out loud. Learning and growth should never stop. #readyornot #growthmindset #parentingjourney #collegecounseling #collegeadmissions #lifeskills #adulting #celebratetogether #futurefocused #futureyellowjacket🐝 Randolph-Macon College IECA Independent Educational Consultants Association

What's a master's degree in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (Higher Education & Student Affairs concentration) from the University of Iowa College of Education without practical application? Aside from the practicum opportunities, internships, capstone [projects], and research exposure that the HESA program at the University of Iowa exposes you to, writing opinion pieces and advising policy-makers on how to improve the status of higher education and college student support are other ways you are prepared to become a relevant student affairs professional. I invite you to read my conversation with the Vanguard Newspaper on how the Nigerian government can enhance higher education with student-centric reforms, proper investments, and more. https://lnkd.in/djKx9xq5

🔎 ➡️ Did you know Fordham University students take on internships at the United Nations, are mentored by CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and earn prestigious Fulbright Fellowships to continue their studies and work around the world? Learn more about this featured college on CollegeXpress! #colleges #highered #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #collegesearch #collegeadmission #exploringcolleges #students #highschoolstudents #collegestudents

"What are you most proud of?" 🌟 February 2024 was a special month for me – earning my Ph.D. and becoming Dr. Susan Gritzka! 🎓 What makes it even more special? Well, I love numbers, so let's talk stats. 10 out of 100 children from academic backgrounds pursue a Ph.D., compared to just 1 out of 100 children from non-academic families. Being part of that minority fills me with pride. 💪 But let's rewind a bit. In my first job interview after my master's, I was asked, "What are you most proud of?" Despite the smooth conversation until then, I froze on the spot. 😅 Reflecting on my journey, I've come to realize that disparities in educational opportunities and social inequality in Germany are evident both in statistics and personal experiences. The educational system often (! - not always) favors children from highly educated backgrounds, with the expectation of full focus on studies and support, whether it be ideological or financial. While some classmates could afford unpaid internships during breaks, I juggled delivering pizzas or working in factories to fund my studies, missing out on internship experiences that could impress scholarship providers or aid future career connections. And, well, while other doctoral candidates had their parents proofread their theses, I found it challenging to explain the essence of mine to my family. However, this doesn't imply that working-class students can't succeed equally well. The path to success might just be different. 🛤️ I had often seen it as a kind of weakness until I discovered the initiative ArbeiterKind.de gGmbH and participated as a mentor during my bachelor's studies. Now, I regard it as a strength; the skills I gained on my journey are enduring. I hope that employers, universities, and scholarship providers would show greater sensitivity to the diverse journeys and needs of students and professionals alike, helping them grow together. 🌱   P.S. Despite blanking on that question, I still got hired! 🎉 Nowadays, I wouldn't be speechless because I know there are many things I can be proud of. And my parents are proud, too. 👨👩👧 #PhD #EducationEquality #Careerpath #Promotion #Bildung #Karriereweg

When asked to reflect on her 21 years (and counting!) at Every Texan, Administration Manager Val Davidson has the following to say: "In the 21 years I’ve worked at Every Texan, I’ve had an inside look at the strides made to improve education and equity in our state. As a native Texan and a dedicated member of the Every Texan team, this progress fills me with great pride.  Of the many Every Texan contributions to a better Texas, I am especially proud of our internship program. It is a transformational, hands-on educational experience that cultivates emerging advocates and policy experts — many of whom are aspiring educators themselves. We see incredibly bright and passionate individuals come through this program every year. As they complete their internships, these rising stars carry their new expertise into roles that drive positive change in Texas and beyond. But, there’s one thing our interns and other learners should never have to carry: the inequities that come with accessing education of all forms. That is why Every Texan persistently advocates for policies and programs that improve access and equity in education. Our People’s Budget will do just that. Through people-centered, fact-based research and policy analysis, a coalition of partners across race, class, and gender, deep community engagement with everyday Texans, and a narrative shift supported by digital advocacy, we know we can impact change where it matters — in public policy. This year, as you gather with family and friends — perhaps playing a board game or two — I challenge you to think about the power in our collective action. If every Texan works together, building an equitable education system (or maybe even carrying an elephant!) is possible. With your support today, we can work together to make the big, bold changes we need to make Texas the best place to learn and live for every Texan: https://lnkd.in/gQgdaa49"