How We Work
How we do our work is as important as what we do and makes our work impactful and enduring. We value outcomes for students over adherence to specific models. We choose ‘and’ instead of ‘or’ — our work gains strength and impact from the expert integration of diverse ideas, perspectives, and practices.
Our approach is based on decades of experience as practitioners committed to educational equity.
We work with school and school system leaders to improve outcomes for all students—especially those farthest from opportunity.
- Empathy and Rigor
We understand what it takes to go from vision to impact. And we’ve tailored our approach accordingly—combining empathy with rigor in equal measure. - A Human Touch
We know what it’s like to sit in your seat. So we take the time to earn trust and build strong relationships. And work to create a safe environment where our partners feel heard and understood. - Tailored to Fit
We know the key building blocks that need to be in place. But we also know that your situation is unique. So we adapt proven approaches and quality content to meet your specific context. - Focused on Outcomes
We know nothing is more important than student impact. So we set a high bar for ourselves—and our partners. Everything we do is about helping you accelerate outcomes. - Setting you up for success
At the end of our time together, you’ll be set up for continued success.
DEIA
Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism:
Across our work, we dedicate ourselves to better serving students and families who have been marginalized and underserved by our nation’s education system. We aim to disrupt racial and economic injustice, which both contribute to and are fueled by our current state of educational inequity. We commit to disrupting systems of oppression and strive to be an anti-racist organization by:
- Bringing an equity lens to all that we do within our organization and with our partners.
- Tackling issues of race, class, and privilege with rigor, empathy and courage.
- Engaging in deep collective and individual learning and reflection about issues of race, class, power, and our identities.
- Fostering inclusive, safe, brave, and reflective spaces where people are heard, respected, and can show up as their whole selves.
- Building a team that reflects the communities most impacted by our work.
- Proactively addressing and directly challenging racist and inequitable practices, structures, and systems.
- Recognizing limitations and identifying approaches, resources, and supports to help ourselves and our partners advance outcomes and experiences for students farthest from opportunity.
Ultimately, the purpose of our DEIA commitment is to hold us accountable to realize our vision: All students have equitable access to educational excellence. We believe that all students, especially those farthest from opportunity, deserve to experience great schools. We will continue to champion this vision in alignment with our values.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism
We commit to better serving students and families who have been marginalized and underserved by our nation’s education system. We commit to fight for educational equity and excellence in order to disrupt racial and economic injustice, which both contribute to and are fueled by our current state of educational inequity. We commit to disrupting systems of oppression and strive to be an anti-racist organization. We:
- Bring an equity lens to all that we do within our organization and with our partners.
- Tackle issues of race, class, and privilege thoughtfully and head-on.
- Engage in deep collective and individual learning and reflection about issues of race, class, and power.
- Foster inclusive, safe, and brave spaces where people are heard, respected, and can show up as their whole selves.
- Build a team that reflects the communities most impacted by our work.
- Proactively name and call out racist and inequitable practices, structures, and systems.
- Recognize our limitations and identify resources and supports to help partners advance their own commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
Values
Our values stem directly from our collective experience as practitioners. We apply them to every partnership, every step of the way. At their core is a mixture of deep empathy and deep rigor.
Empathy
We are attuned, and we practice empathy with our partners, each other, and ourselves.
We seek to understand
We listen deeply. We ask questions, find answers, and then ask more questions. We hold our partners, each other, and ourselves accountable to pushing beyond the surface.
We adapt to meet the needs of our partners
Everything we do is adapted to suit the specific context of each partner. We know what it’s like to lead schools and school systems and we bring that experience to bear in every partner interaction.
We strive for growth
We set a high bar for ourselves, constantly asking how we—and our partners—can best create long-term student impact. We intentionally develop ourselves, each other, and our partners. We leave our partners with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to operate enduring systems with excellence. We learn and grow with every engagement.
Rigor
We think and act with rigor, and we don’t stop until we get to clarity and excellence.
We keep student impact at the center
We make all decisions based on the best interests of students. Especially those furthest from opportunity. We share ownership of student outcomes with our partners.
We embrace the “and”
We believe there are multiple paths to school excellence. We reject false choices, like social emotional learning vs. rigorous academics. Our work gains strength from the expert integration of diverse ideas and perspectives.
We choose proven practices
We don’t let ourselves—or our partners—get distracted by bright shiny things. Instead, we focus on practices, approaches and content that are proven to yield results.
