Brian participated in the Kansas City School Leader Cohort.

“When I started my career, I had a principal who focused on equity, and I took for granted that would be the focus everywhere. Working with School Leader Lab, I realized that I couldn’t depend on other people to lead with equity. It’s my job as a leader to take that on and do great things for students. School Leader Lab is always leaning forward and always focused on equity. The conversations are rough and deep. I see leadership as needing to be an advocate to support the students in this building so that they have every advantage and opportunity that other students have.”

“School Leader Lab’s intention around storytelling helped me learn more about myself and what drives me. I’m not naturally a storyteller, but I’m getting better at telling it. I have to tell my story, so people understand my vision and see my vision as worthwhile, valuable, and something they want to join. When I tell my story, people can see I also value them. It’s a way to connect. In fact, I’m back where my story started: During the pandemic, I went to drop off technology at a student’s home and I looked up and realized it was the street I grew up on. That’s truly being back at where my story started.”

Brandon participated in the DC School Leader Cohort.

“School Leader Lab has so many entry points for leadership growth: there is one-on-one coaching to meet the specific issues and processes you are struggling with. There are opportunities to bring strategic issues to other school leaders and work through them. There is a space of more than a dozen leaders who have a tremendous impact on my practice, my systems, my culture, and my instruction.”

“Coming to the program, I struggled with hard conversations with my team and in one-on-one conversations. There was a difference in what I wanted to convey and what was heard. Noble Story Group gave me a framework on how to prepare for conversations. Before, I was reactive: ‘let me share the information I want to share.’ Now, I think about how the information will be heard. When I look at the data on my performance: staff satisfaction rates, building community, and having clarity: that’s where I see the greatest improvement. It’s in the data.”

“School Leader Lab created a community of people that I can go to and hone my craft as a leader and get the social-emotional support to remain in leadership and remain engaged in the work.”

Chelsea has participated in our High School Practice Exchange and engaged our team in a customized project.

“We are an alternative adult high school in DC that is growing. We have two locations opening in 2022 and will serve even more students. I partnered with School Leader Lab first to connect with other high schools. I found that the space School Leader Lab created took away our “alternative” label and I could connect with high school leaders in a different way. I was able to collaborate and be introspective on the similar issues we all faced. Too often, we get steeped in our own context and don’t look at the bigger picture.”

“Strong leadership is created through unpacking your own journey and why you come to the work. People stay at schools where there is strong leadership, transparent communication, and living out our values.”

“School Leader Lab is a great partner to bring in for sustainability and the growth of our model. They helped us think through the leadership needs for expanding our enrollment and our campuses. We utilized School Leader Lab to increase staff retention and, ultimately, student retention.”