School Leader Lab

Congratulations to Akosua Kelley, partner at School Leader Lab, for being a selected panelist at her alma mater Dartmouth College's panel on social impact. Akosua is being featured for her insights on education trends and how national policy is impacting leaders, teachers and students every day in schools. Go, go Akosua!

The 2025 DC Principal PLC cohort is officially underway, and we couldn't be more energized! 🎉 In partnership with Teach For America DC & Northern Virginia, our first session reminded us why this work matters—bringing together school leaders who lead with vulnerability, authenticity, and an unwavering commitment to their communities. Thank you to every principal who shared what drives you and keeps you anchored in this challenging, meaningful work. We hope you left feeling affirmed, rejuvenated, and connected to a community that truly gets it. At its heart, the PLC is about connection—uniting school leaders to share insights, collaborate authentically, and make our schools even stronger for the students and families we serve. Here's to a year of growth, support, and collective impact. The energy in the room was undeniable, and we can't wait to see what we'll accomplish together. 💪 #EducationLeadership #PrincipalPLC #SchoolLeadership #DCPS #TeachForAmerica #EducationalEquity

So nice we had to make it twice! School Leader Lab Announces Largest Teacher Leader Cohort to Date for 2025 School Leader Lab is pleased to announce TLC 2025. These individuals join the growing School Leader Lab community of over 500 leaders, which is designed to support teacher leaders in creating inclusive, high-performing learning environments that foster growth and excellence for all students. TLC is a seven-month, cross-school program that develops teachers who lead teams at their schools (i.e., grade level leads, department chairs, etc.). The cohort offers these leaders the opportunity to step back from their demanding daily work and reflect with peers on their collective and individual impact as leaders. During their time in the cohort, leaders will: 💎🧠 Embrace their core values and strengthen self- and social-awareness. 🚀🎯 Facilitate impactful team meetings to lead their team to ambitious goals. 💬✨ Engage in crucial conversations. TLC 2025 includes 22 leaders from 7 LEAs across DC, representing Wards 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, as well as Alexandria and Arlington Public Schools: Brian Biscoe MS LAT,ATC,PES, 11th Grade Level Lead, DCI - District of Columbia International School Jessica Eunjin Lee, 4th Grade Teacher, Hyde-Addison Elementary Samantha Walters, 5th Grade ELA Teacher & Team Lead, James K Polk Elementary Nicole Mammah, Sped TLI, Simon Elementary Kynara Calicutt, Middle School Science Teacher & 5th Grade Teacher Leader, Ingenuity Prep AnaMaria Leyva Garzon,  1st Grade Dual Homeroom Teacher, Mount Vernon Community Schools Janelle Cox, M.Ed Cox, 5th Grade Lead English Humanities Teacher, Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School Brynn Rosser, 6th Grade World Geography & iPBL Coach, Sousa Middle School Maximo Alfaro, M.Ed. Alfaro, 8th Grade Individuals and Societies Department Chair & Teacher, DCI - District of Columbia International School Taylor Diggs, M.Ed, 4th Grade ELA & Social Studies Teacher, Simon Elementary Alexis Allen, 3rd Grade Level Chair, KIPP DC: Heights Academy Aviana Worrell, 2nd Grade General Education Teacher & Teacher Coach, Ingenuity Prep Marina Lizarralde, Kindergarten Spanish Lead Teacher, DC Bilingual Public Charter School  Anne Roth, Dual Language Kindergarten Lead Teacher, Mount Vernon Community Schools jamia barber, 5th-8th Grade Resource Room Lead Teacher & Family Engagement Lead, Ingenuity Prep Alex Vaughn, 3rd Grade Teacher, Cora Kelly Elementary Alyssa Ferguson, Montessori Elementary I (Grades 1-3), The Montessori School of Northern Virginia Will Portilla, 1st Grade Teacher, DC Prep Michael Gaskins, Middle School Science Teacher & Peer Coach, DCI - District of Columbia International School Ebony Simms, ECE Instructional Coach & TLI, King Elementary Ashley Porter, Video Production Teacher & IB Career Program Academy of Information Technology Department Chair, DCI - District of Columbia International School Lyndsy C., 3rd Grade Lead English Teacher, DC Bilingual Public Charter School

As we close out National Hispanic Heritage Month, we're proud to spotlight Shirley Chisholm Elementary School's (District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)) groundbreaking approach to bilingual education, where APLA 2023 cohort member Sara Arranz is Assistant Principal! 🎨 What makes Shirley Chisholm special? Shirley Chisholm has integrated their Creative Arts and Dual Language Spanish Immersion programs into a unified Bilingual-Arts program — creating an educational model that celebrates both language diversity and creative expression. 📚 The Shirley Chisholm Experience: -Students explore their unique identities through the multidimensional lens of language and culture. -Academic concepts come alive through creative strategies in art, music, and drama. -50/50 English-Spanish instruction for K-5 students. -Community partnerships enrich the holistic learning experience. 🌍 Why this matters: In today's global community, Shirley Chisholm students develop critical skills: ✓ Bilingual/biliteracy proficiency ✓ Cultural self-awareness and mutual respect ✓ Creative problem-solving through the arts ✓ 21st-century global citizenship During #HispanicHeritageMonth, Shirley Chisholm Elementary stands as an inspiring example of how bilingual education and arts integration can prepare students to thrive in our interconnected world. #BilingualEducation #ArtsIntegration #DCPublicSchools #HispanicHeritageMonth #EducationInnovation #CulturalCelebration #BilingualArts

Principal Wisdom Wednesdays: Choose Curiosity Over Anger 🤔 "Be curious, not furious." This simple yet profound philosophy guides Principal Harold Gooden's (Trae) (RPS LEAD 2025) approach to every interaction within his school community at Westover Hills Elementary (Richmond Public Schools). Whether he's working with staff members or students, Harold actively works to check his own emotions and assumptions before reacting. Instead of jumping to conclusions, Trae asks open-ended questions and genuinely listens to others. This approach has led to countless revelations—situations where his initial preconceptions were completely wrong once he dug deeper and heard all perspectives. The power of this curious mindset extends far beyond conflict resolution. Trae has discovered that many situations that could have damaged relationships actually served to strengthen them when approached with genuine curiosity rather than immediate judgment. By modeling this behavior, Trae creates a school culture where difficult conversations become opportunities for understanding, mistakes become learning moments, and every challenge is met with the question, "What can we learn here?" The difference between curiosity and fury isn't just emotional—it's transformational. One builds bridges while the other burns them. What would change in your leadership if you approached every challenging situation with curiosity first? #PrincipalsMonth #EducationalLeadership #PrincipalLife #CuriousLeadership #RelationshipBuilding #SchoolCulture #Leadership #ConflictResolution

🎉 APLA Cohort 2025 is officially launched! What an incredible start! The energy in the room was electric as our newest cohort showed up fully authentic, engaged, and ready to grow. We spent time reflecting on the leaders who've shaped us, getting crystal clear on our core values, and embracing a powerful truth: entropy is part of leadership. As leaders, we're constantly working to "keep the saltshaker on center"—bringing order, alignment, and focus to the beautiful chaos of leading teams and organizations. To this year's cohort: thank you for bringing your whole selves to the table. Your openness and commitment set the tone for what I know will be a transformative journey ahead. Here's to building stronger, more authentic leaders together. 🚀 #APLACohort2025 #LeadershipDevelopment #AuthenticLeadership #ProfessionalGrowth #Leadership

Principal Wisdom Wednesdays: Excellence as Activism ✊📚 "Teaching Black and Brown children WELL is the purest form of activism." The Center for Black Educator Development This powerful quote profoundly shapes how Principal Jacob Waites (DC PLC 2023 and SLC 2024) of Center City Public Charter Schools Capitol Hill approaches educational leadership. For him, this lens transforms routine instructional practices into transformative, justice-focused action that honors every student's potential. Jacob's leadership philosophy centers on deliberate recruiting, coaching, and staff development that prioritizes culturally responsive instruction. His team views students' identities as assets, not obstacles, creating an environment where every child can thrive authentically. This approach shows up in concrete ways at his school: 📊 Using data-driven interventions to address opportunity gaps 📖✨ Advocating for curriculum that incorporates student perspectives and experiences 🤝🏘️ Implementing family engagement strategies specifically designed for their Black and Brown communities As Jacob puts it, internalizing this philosophy as a principal means continuously aligning professional development, policies, and daily actions to ensure that both leadership and instruction are genuinely committed to excellence for all students—and purposefully liberation-focused. When we teach all children well, we don't just educate—we transform lives, break cycles, and build futures. That's the activism that happens every day in our classrooms and hallways. How does your leadership ensure that excellence and equity go hand in hand in your school community? #PrincipalsMonth #EducationalLeadership #EquityInEducation #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #EducationalActivism #PrincipalLife #StudentSuccess #SocialJustice

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we're proud to spotlight Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School. Michelle Mangan, SLC 2025 cohort member and Principal of Mundo Verde PCS - Calle Ocho, shares with us what makes her school so special. Why Mundo Verde Matters: 🌍 True Representation: With 34% Hispanic/Latino students, Mundo Verde reflects the beautiful diversity of Washington, DC, creating an authentic multicultural learning environment. 📚 Bilingual Excellence: Their dual language immersion program doesn't just teach Spanish and English – it builds bridges between cultures and opens doors to global opportunities through the International Baccalaureate pathway. 🤝 Inclusive Community: Serving students across all income levels, ethnicities, and backgrounds, this tuition-free school proves that quality education should be accessible to everyone. 🌱 Values-Driven: Guided by ESPICA values (Empathy, Speak your truth, Perseverance, Inquiry, Collaboration, and Appreciation), they're not just teaching subjects – they're nurturing future leaders who care about their communities. With 1,071 students across two campuses, Mundo Verde is preparing the next generation to "solve big problems" while honoring their cultural heritage and developing cross-cultural competence that's essential in our interconnected world. During Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond, let's celebrate schools like Mundo Verde that understand that our diversity is our strength. When we honor all cultures and languages, we create richer learning experiences for everyone. What examples of multicultural education have inspired you? Share in the comments below. #HispanicHeritageMonth #BilingualEducation #DiversityInEducation #MundoVerde #CharterSchools #MulticulturalLearning #WashingtonDC #EducationEquity

In honor of National Principals Month, we are spotlighting powerful advice that has influenced some of our principals. Check out their awesome advice every Wednesday this month with our series “Principal Wisdom Wednesdays.” Principal Wisdom Wednesdays: Embracing the Hard Things 🎯 "The ability to do hard things is perhaps the most useful ability you can foster in yourself." This quote has fundamentally shaped how Principal Shaunte Daniel (DC PLC 2025) of Excel Academy (District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)) approaches leadership challenges in education. When her team set out to improve their CAPE math scores this year, they knew it would require difficult decisions and uncomfortable changes that many would resist. Through continuous monitoring and data-driven adjustments, Shaunte implemented shifts that her team initially found challenging. But here's what she learned: every time they pushed through the discomfort, their collective "toolbox" of problem-solving skills grew stronger. The result? Significant gains in their CAPE math scores and, more importantly, a school culture that no longer shies away from difficult but necessary work. Shaunte's willingness to tackle hard things doesn't just improve outcomes—it models resilience and a growth mindset for her entire school community. When students and staff see their principal embrace challenges head-on, it creates a ripple effect of courage throughout the building. What "hard thing" has your leadership team tackled recently that strengthened your school? #PrincipalsMonth #EducationalLeadership #PrincipalLife #SchoolImprovement #GrowthMindset #Leadership

This National Hispanic Heritage Month, we're proud to spotlight Powell Elementary (District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)) in Washington, DC's Petworth community—a school that's transforming education through the power of bilingual learning under the leadership of Principal O'Kiyyah Lyons, DC PLC 2024. Building Tomorrow's Leaders 🌟📚  Powell's dual language program empowers students to become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural leaders. Every day, students engage in authentic learning experiences in both English and Spanish, developing critical thinking skills that will serve them for life. Academic Excellence in Action 🏆📊 The results speak for themselves: 10% gains on DC CAPE for two consecutive years 5-8 point math gains annually for three straight years Double-digit reduction in students scoring at Level 1 in math Consistent literacy progress in both languages through targeted instruction Making History Through Civic Engagement 🏛️⚖️ Powell students didn't just learn about democracy—they lived it. They successfully led the effort to designate the Redback Salamander as DC's official amphibian, demonstrating the power of student voice and civic participation. Family Partnership at Its Best 🤝👨👩👧👦💙 With a 90% parent satisfaction rate, Powell demonstrates that when families and schools collaborate as true partners, students thrive. From bilingual events to home learning support, families are integral to Powell's success story. Powell Elementary shows us what's possible when we embrace multilingualism as a superpower and treat every family as a valued partner in education. What examples of innovative dual language programs have inspired you? #NationalHispanicHeritageMonth #DualLanguageEducation #BilingualLearning #DCSchools #StudentSuccess #FamilyEngagement