Racial equity is a deep-seated value for principals Andrea Steele of Tucson, Arizona, Samuel Etienne of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Eliza Loyola of Austin, Texas. As they strive to fulfill these values in their schools, each of these principals has found valuable tools and approaches, as well as a supportive virtual network, as they engaged in an…

Discriminatory policies and practices create biased beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes among those who stand to benefit from them, thereby reinforcing the policies and practices. Perhaps most insidiously, this process often occurs outside of conscious awareness, creating a societal pattern that, over time, becomes a legacy in and outside of…

As Asian American women and history teachers, the authors advocate for the community by helping educators improve representation of Asian American and Pacific Islander people and fight racism against the community. This need has never felt more urgent in the wake of the murders of eight people in Atlanta, Georgia, six of whom -- Xiaojie Tan,…

In the Lexington Public Schools, outside of Boston, Massachusetts, they pride themselves on being innovative. Two years ago, they demonstrated that spirit by creating a director of equity role. Positions like this hadn't previously existed in many districts like theirs -- small, suburban, well-resourced, high-performing, historically white, and…

At the Center for Black Educator Development, the organization Sharif El-Mekki founded and leads, they believe that to teach Black children "superbly" is a revolutionary act. In service of that goal, they prepare educators to instill in Black children a positive sense of their own racial identity and, in so doing, equip them with the…

The school principal has long been recognized as a critical driver for school improvement and student success, but new research supported by The Wallace Foundation has found that principals have an even greater impact than previously stated. A synthesis of two decades of studies builds on previous research about how principals impact student…

States and local communities are increasing access to preschool, but there is a significant divide when it comes to the quality of these early learning programs. Education and training requirements for preschool educators vary based on setting and state regulations, and while districts and nonprofits may offer professional learning, effective…

Developing early reading skills is important for long-term academic success. Too often, however, young children do not have the foundations of literacy they need. One-third of Tennessee students read on grade level (Tennessee Department of Education, 2021), and in the state's capital city of Nashville, three out of four 3rd graders are not reading…

Project I4 is a federally funded SEED (Supporting Effective Educator Development) grant, a partnership between East Carolina University and the Institute for Educational Leadership. It is a cohort-based, yearlong professional learning experience aimed at reimagining instructional leadership through an equity lens. Specifically, school leader…

To help grow the capacity of their teachers to maximize the growth of their students, Keller (Texas) Independent School District used video to provide personalized professional learning to teachers across the career continuum, from new teachers to veteran teachers looking to improve their practice. Their decision to use video-based professional…

Young children's daily interactions with teachers are critical to the development of their social, cognitive, and self-regulatory skills (Hamre, 2014). But not all young children have access to the types of interactions that matter -- interactions that are warm, supportive, cognitively engaging, and rich in core academic areas such as literacy,…

The need for social and emotional learning (SEL) has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unprecedented school closings have led to social isolation, illness, and economic hardship -- exacerbating anxiety -- and reopening plans continue to cause uncertainty and stress. These factors heighten the urgency to equip educators and school…

The authors work with practicing teachers learning to become coaches in graduate programs and through professional learning initiatives in multiple school districts. They are also engaged in an ongoing research study of new coach development. Over the last five years, they have observed some common patterns in coaches' learning (Ortmann et. al,…

Social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as growth mindset and perseverance have always been important for learning mathematics, but educators are not always explicit about how or intentional about integrating them into math classrooms. In the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, they are working to change that. Two…

At all times, but especially in today's shifting contexts created by the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers benefit from differentiated professional learning support. One way school leaders can ensure such support is to nurture a culture of coaching. By embracing instructional coaching and establishing it as part of the school culture, leaders can help…