Education

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

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,

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

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

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

By Brit Seward, M.Ed., School Improvement Specialist, Mathematics Across our portfolio, mathematics results show small signs of improvement, but proficiency remains alarmingly low. For example, only 9.7% of students scored proficient in Algebra I this fall, compared to 62.7% statewide (Ohio Department of Education & Workforce, 2025). These numbers are not just statistics—they represent opportunities

By Mindy Farry, BCHF School Improvement and Accountability Representative When I saw Stephen Covey’s book, Trust and Inspire at a little local bookstore I love in New York City, I couldn’t resist. In this book, he makes a strong case for making a systemic shift in leadership styles. He stresses that the world has changed, but that in most