Paola Gilliam

Growing Opportunity Culture® Residencies in Texas

Public Impact, July 22, 2021

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 more…

State grant to fund more teacher preparation in Hamilton County Schools

From Chattanooga Times Free Press, June 28, 2021, by Anika Chaturvedi

Lipscomb University received a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Education to further develop its partnership with Hamilton County Schools and other school districts through the Grow Your Own teacher preparation program.

The Grow Your Own program aims to increase the number of teaching candidates from various backgrounds and education levels, and the grants fund tuition, fees, supplies and licensure for participating students. It’s one of several initiatives with Hamilton County Schools, such as Project Inspire, to boost the quantity of teachers and recruit more diverse candidates. Read more…

June 2021 Newsletter

The June newsletter includes an announcement of the 2021-22 Opportunity Culture Fellows, the new OC educator communities, resources for multi-classroom leaders and principals, and OC news and happenings. Read the June 2021 newsletter here.

MISD principal named OC fellow

From Midland-Reporter Telegram, June 21, 2021

Public Impact is pleased to announce that Midland ISD Principal Christin Reeves of Emerson Elementary, and an Ector ISD principal, Susan Hendricks of Ross Elementary, have been selected as members of the 2021–22 Opportunity Culture Fellows.

This cohort of Opportunity Culture Fellows is made up of eight principals from North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, and Maryland who have achieved strong results in their schools and districts. The national Opportunity Culture initiative, founded by Public Impact and now in more than 45 sites in 10 states, extends the reach of excellent teachers and their teams to more students, for more pay, within schools’ recurring budgets. Read more…

Public Impact® Announces Opportunity Culture® Fellows

From OA Online, June 18, 202

Public Impact has announced the seventh cohort of Opportunity Culture Fellows, made up of eight principals, including one from Ector County ISD, who have achieved strong results in their schools and districts.

Fellows provide support to their cohort, take one another’s ideas back to their schools, write columns or lead webinars about their experiences, and speak locally and nationally about their Opportunity Culture roles. Their feedback and leadership are invaluable in helping to improve the Opportunity Culture initiative, and all materials related to it. Last year, for example, fellows shared their expertise in these webinars and columns. Read more…

Public Impact® Announces 2021 National Cohort of Opportunity Culture® Fellows

June 17, 2021, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— Public Impact announces with pleasure the seventh cohort of Opportunity Culture Fellows, made up of eight principals who have achieved strong results in their schools and districts.

Fellows provide support to their cohort, take one another’s ideas back to their schools, write columns or lead webinars about their experiences, and speak locally and nationally about their Opportunity Culture roles. Their feedback and leadership are invaluable in helping to improve the Opportunity Culture initiative, and all materials related to it. Read the full press release…

Public Impact® Announces 2021 National Cohort of Opportunity Culture® Fellows

By Public Impact, June 17, 2021

Public Impact announces with pleasure the seventh cohort of Opportunity Culture Fellows, made up of eight principals who have achieved strong results in their schools and districts.

Fellows provide support to their cohort, take one another’s ideas back to their schools, write columns or lead webinars about their experiences, and speak locally and nationally about their Opportunity Culture roles. Their feedback and leadership are invaluable in helping to improve the Opportunity Culture initiative, and all materials related to it. Last year, for example, fellows shared their expertise in these webinars and columns.

Lincoln Named Opportunity Culture® Model School

From Washington County Enterprise-Leader, June 16, 2021, by Lynn Kutter

Lincoln Middle School helped to pilot a new program during the 2019-20 school year, and for 2021, it has been named a model school for the program.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education with the state department of education recently announced that Lincoln Middle School and Forrest City Junior High School had both been named a 2021 Arkansas Opportunity Culture Model School for their efforts to “improve student access to a high-quality education by extending the reach of excellent teachers to more students.”
Read more…

May 2021 Newsletter

The May newsletter includes updates on the Opportunity Culture Dashboard, resources for multi-classroom leaders and principals, a column about personalizing professional development, a video playlist, and more. Read the May 2021 newsletter here.