From Houston ISD, November 17, 2021
Superintendent Millard House II has named Jeremy Grant-Skinner as chief talent officer and Dr. Shawn Bird as chief academic officer of the Houston Independent School District. Mr. Grant-Skinner brings a wealth of experience to HISD. He began his career as a first-grade teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, where he later served as chief human capital officer from 2017 to 2021. With his leadership, Baltimore achieved record-high teacher retention, record-low teacher vacancies, and new highs in the number of Latinx and Black male teachers. Mr. Grant-Skinner launched Opportunity Culture programs expanding teacher leadership and development opportunities in Baltimore and in Syracuse, NY. Read more…
Paola Gilliam
Who Suggests Opportunity Culture® Models as a Covid Recovery Strategy?
By Public Impact, October 28, 2021
As districts continue to cope with a drawn-out end to the pandemic and worsening staff shortages, education research groups, advocacy organizations, and state and federal offices have publicized strategies for Covid recovery—with many suggesting Opportunity Culture models as one strategy to consider.
October 2021 Newsletter: Strong Student Learning Results
The October newsletter includes tools and videos for educators, news of strong learning results in a Texas Opportunity Culture district, reflections from an Opportunity Culture Fellow on remote learning, and more. Read the October 2021 newsletter here.
Words of Wisdom from Opportunity Culture® Leaders
By Sharon Kebschull Barrett, October 7, 2021
Many Opportunity Culture directors/district leads from around the country attended an online gathering in September—a great way to share insights and begin to build this community. Special thanks to those who participated in the panel discussion: Superintendent Scott Muri of Ector County (Texas) Independent School District, and Opportunity Culture directors Jessie Garcia of Ector County; Chris Hightower of Midland (Texas) Independent School District; Anne Claire Tejtel Nornhold of Baltimore City Schools; and Erin Swanson of Edgecombe County (North Carolina) Public Schools.
Researchers Report Strong Student Learning Results in Texas Opportunity Culture® District
By Public Impact, September 29, 2021
Researchers from Texas Tech University report that students served by Opportunity Culture multi-classroom leader teaching teams achieved learning growth in the top quartile teamwide, on average, according to their study of the Ector County Independent School District’s first Opportunity Culture year.
The district asked the researchers to conduct an independent review of its first eight Opportunity Culture schools, which began using Opportunity Culture roles in 2020–21 with 27 multi-classroom leaders. In those first schools, 72% of students—7,121 out of 9,928 students at the schools—were reached by an Opportunity Culture team. This year, the district has 17 Opportunity Culture schools and 59 multi-classroom leaders.
In Memoriam: Dr. Eric Ward, Principal and Opportunity Culture® Fellow
By Sharon Kebschull Barrett, September 29, 2021
Dr. Eric Ward, principal of Harding University High School, an Opportunity Culture school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, died on September 22 at the age of 46. Ward, a 2019–20 Opportunity Culture Fellow, had been an educator in Charlotte for nearly 25 years, including as principal of four schools.
Back to School with the Opportunity Culture® Newsletter
By Public Impact, August 26, 2021
Are your back-to-school emotions at a high pitch this year—a mix of hope and joy and concern? This month’s newsletter provides resources that may help soothe some concerns and set you up for success with your teaching teams and students—plus news about Opportunity Culture districts and a feature on a multi-classroom leader who had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona. What would you share with Cardona if you had the chance? Tell me—and let me know what helped in this newsletter, and what you need in future editions. Meanwhile, please share this with your colleagues so they can sign up for future newsletters!
August 2021 Newsletter: Back to School with the Opportunity Culture® Newsletter
The August newsletter includes tools and videos for educators in the new school year, a column about a multi-classroom leader’s message for education leaders, new Opportunity Culture districts, and more. Read the August 2021 newsletter here.
One teacher’s message for Secretary Cardona
By Sharon Kebschull Barrett, first published by EducationNC, August 16, 2021
When multi-classroom leader Kenyatta Davenport got the chance to talk to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, her message was simple: Teachers haven’t given up, but we need your support to get students back on track after the coronavirus — and fast.
Simple — and short, since she had limited time to speak to Cardona when he visited Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools on July 12. But Davenport would definitely tell him more if she had the time. Read More…
Texas Initiative to Add Paid, Financially Sustainable Opportunity Culture® Teacher Residencies Expands
July 22, 2021, CHAPEL Hill, N.C.—Bringing a fresh approach to teacher training, five more Texas school districts will be providing yearlong, paid teacher residencies on teaching teams led by excellent teachers in the 2021–22 school year, by implementing Opportunity Culture roles in partnership with local universities and US PREP National Center (University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation). Read the full press release…