Joán Álvarez is a firm believer in the grit and perseverance of first-generation college students. So much so, in fact, that the subject is the very focus of his dissertation. Along with being in his final year of studies, Álvarez, who is pursuing a doctorate in education, also serves as the national vice president of …
The Leadership Academy is designed for school leaders at all levels: principal, assistant principal, dean, instructional coach—essentially any educator who wants to grow their leadership capabilities to maximize their impact in accelerating student achievement. The program is grounded in a virtual cohort experience. Professional learning is focused on change management, strategic planning, leading effective adult …
More than 500 school leaders’ ability to lead. Over 133,000 students’ life trajectories. Those are the numbers when it comes to the remarkable impact Accelerate Institute has made since our team first set out on our mission of delivering equity in education more than 30 years ago. Looking back on the 2022-23 school year, we …
Reflections and Inspiration from Growth Accelerator Leaders Read More »
Once a driving force at Accelerate Institute, inspirational educator Dr. Angel Turner has now set her sights on an ambitious new undertaking: playing the lead role in delivering a quality education for approximately 6,500 pre-K through eighth-grade students on Chicago’s North Shore. In June, Dr. Turner was unanimously approved by the Evanston/Skokie District 65 Board …
Dr. Angel Turner Elevates Her Influence on Chicago’s North Shore Read More »
Before the 2023-24 school year got underway, educators enjoyed an opportunity to pause, reset, and focus on all of the important work ahead. Over the summer, our team here at Accelerate Institute took some time to step back and reflect on our schools’ accomplishments in the previous school year. We sat in celebration with our …
How Do We Ensure a Successful School Year? By Keeping Students First! Read More »
In the years since the pandemic forced schools to close and educators to shift to remote learning, fears about how — or whether — students would be able to keep pace with pre-pandemic academic benchmarks have persisted. These fears were confirmed in June, when the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) federal …
As Students Play Catch-Up, These School Leaders Are Rising to the Challenge Read More »
It’s official. With its ruling last week that effectively ended the role of affirmative action in college admissions, the U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a devastating blow to diversity efforts in America’s highly selective universities. So, what’s our next move as K-12 school leaders following this seismic shift in higher education? It is abundantly clear …
Most of us feel pressure to conform to the people around us throughout our lives. For some of us, this feeling can be compounded by a lack of acceptance from others. For Timothy R. Faust, a participant in Accelerate Institute’s Leadership Bridge program, the pressure to conform was foundational. “As a Black gay man in …
How Celebrating Pride is Helping Chicago-Area Students Embrace Their True Selves Read More »
As Founding Principal of KIPP Academy Chicago Primary (KACP), Jarell Lee was on track to help his students exceed their educational goals. “Our student culture was really strong, our family engagement was strong,” Lee shares of founding KACP in 2019. “Our teacher satisfaction was high. But the thing that we really hung our hat on was …
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools across the country collectively shifted to a remote learning model. Families found themselves wondering, Can my child receive an adequate education if they’re not in the classroom? Without question, the pandemic and the virtual landscape it called for spelled new territory for educators nationwide. However, for just as many …
Perspectives on Schools Today from Growth Accelerator Leaders Read More »
