If you’re like most school leaders, many days are harder than the previous day. You don’t have to solve this Rubik’s Cube on your own, though. In a recent 60-minute workshop, Dr. Catherine Burns examined the insights and actions of successful school leaders that might just spark your next best leadership idea.

This year's Impact event was held virtually on Wednesday, October 28. Pat Ryan, Jr., founder of Accelerate Institute, interviewed principals Katie Kirley (Steel City Academy, Gary, IN) and Kash Wilson (Hansberry College Prep, Chicago, IL). Each of them talked about how Accelerate Institute has helped them become transformational school leaders. There was also a special bonus interview where Vonyell Foster (Alain Locke Charter School) talked with alum Martin Hunter (Class of 2008) about how Alain Locke set him up for success in academics and beyond. You can now watch the full event online.

Even though we cannot be together, Impact will be a virtual event this year and it is still something you’ll want to attend. It’s where you’ll hear how our work has never been more important, especially in light of today’s social justice movement. Save the date: October 28, 2020.

Authored by Accelerate Institute, this in-depth report examines how schools can leverage the Forcing Function system to drive school change. The Forcing Function system includes a main school goal around student achievement, a Primary Metric to monitor progress toward the goal, and a set of structures and norms that “force” the school to analyze what is and isn’t working and create action steps.

Communities across the world this year have been reimagining what daily life looks like during a pandemic. Read about what this has meant for Accelerate Institute school leaders as they leveraged their training to continue to meet the needs of their students and families.

The 2020-2021 school year is right around the corner. But as back-to-school draws near, there are still so many unknowns. Regardless of what unfolds for any particular school, one thing is certain: preparing for learning in the new normal requires an unparalleled level of strategic planning.