By Illie Massey, School Improvement Representative Early in my work with urban schools, I visited a building that had been labeled “low performing” for years. The hallways were quiet, student work was minimal, and much of the instruction I observed centered on remediation. In one classroom, a teacher shared, almost apologetically, that she avoided grade […]
High Expectations, Joy, and Thriving in Urban Schools Read More »
Our Education Division has been working on strategic planning with The National Charter Schools Institute. A key part of the experience has been reconnecting with our “why” in education, a reflection on the personal purpose that drives our work. We’re excited to share our stories in upcoming Sponsor Updates. This month, we’re featuring Karen Rose,
Rooted in Student Advocacy: Karen Rose’s “Why” Read More »
By Dr. Zoe Plotnick, School Improvement Representative School leadership practices that center student voice support learning environments that are equitable, inclusive and responsive. For schools serving students from traditionally underserved populations, however, collecting and acting on student experience data must become an imperative. Students with disabilities, multilingual learners, at-promise youth, and students from other marginalized
How Schools Can Build Systems Around Student Experience Read More »
We’re delighted to share that this year’s holiday card will once again spotlight the remarkable creativity of students in our sponsored schools. Learners from across all grade levels were invited to submit their festive artwork, and we’re proud to congratulate this year’s winners: Tayla, a 7th grader from Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School, and
2025 Holiday Card Contest Read More »
We are honored to announce that Buckeye Community Hope Foundation has been named the 2025 recipient of the William J. Graves Award for Housing Excellence by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and OCCH. The award was presented on November 12, 2025, during the Ohio Housing Conference in Columbus, recognizing our organization’s contributions to developing
BCHF Awarded at Ohio Housing Conference Read More »
Service Coordinator Ashley Watkins is making a real difference at Elk Valley Apartments in Elkview, WV! Recognizing the challenges residents faced during the government shutdown, Ashley started a Food Pantry to help those experiencing interruptions in their food benefits. Service Coordinators like Ashley don’t just connect residents to vital services and resources – their presence
Community Spotlight: Elk Valley Apartments Read More »
When it comes to learning math, fractions often top the list of tricky topics for students. But at The Richland School of Academic Arts (RSAA), fifth and sixth grade math teacher Angel Vega decided to turn that challenge into an opportunity. “Math is a schoolwide struggle point, and fractions are one of the hardest concepts
Fraction Week Brings Math to Life at The Richland School of Academic Arts Read More »
By Joni Byus, School Improvement Representative Over the past several years, most schools in our portfolio have experienced the impact of the national teacher shortage firsthand. While there are many contributing factors, it is important that we do not remain focused solely on the causes. Instead, our collective energy should be directed toward understanding how the
The Teacher Shortage: Moving Beyond the “Why” Read More »
