The Inspiring Educator Difference

From Thomas Piketty (Capital in the Twenty-First Century) to ‘No Child Left Behind’, there exists a broad consensus that schools can play a critical role in addressing the pressing social issues of our day – from income inequality, narrowing the opportunity gap, and even easing the racial tensions that often divide us.  Yet, the challenges confrontingAmerica education seem chronic and the promise of what it can do to help realize our common vision remains distant despite massive investments. Research and common sense remind us that great schools need great leadership – leadership that will enlist others in a common pursuit of excellence for all students. Studies as a recent Wallace Foundation study, as well as numerous analyses of data on student achievement all highlight excellent leadership at the individual school level as a key and underutilized lever for student success.

Why Now?
The education reform movement has blossomed in recent years as a response to the crisis in public education.  Amongst the key direction the movement recently has taken is investment in school leadership, and these efforts have steadily focused on ‘tactical’ leadership – essentially how to better manage the schools in America and those who work in them.  Tactical leadership’s complement - adaptive leadership – provides a practical leadership framework that helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in challenging environments.  Adaptive leaders learn and are able to both individually and collectively take on the gradual but meaningful process of change.  Those with developed adaptive leadership skills not only discover the capacity to integrate their work with their tactical leadership training, they find that these new approaches  accelerate tactical leadership development.  The net result? Creating a more positive school climate and ultimately, improved student outcomes.

Why Us?
The programs of Inspiring Educators have demonstrated that they can raise the capacity of all sorts of school leaders, especially those in underserved communities. Inspiring Educators provides world-class leadership development in small groups using experiential theater-based exercises and intensive individualized coaching. Our clients have indicated that our programs can re-invigorate schools around mission and lead to greater cohesion, retention of staff, and overall improved school climate which leads to student success. Our approach builds the capacity of leaders, both individually and collectively, to take on the gradual but meaningful process of change, with a focus on growing individual authenticity and team effectiveness.

At Inspiring Educators, we envision schools across the country led by educators whose deep commitments and passion for realizing the vision and mission of their schools is effectively articulated and integrated through the daily life of their schools.  We see schools transformed by leaders who have tapped their authentic capacity to touch the lives of those around them by engaging, persuading and inspiring their staffs, students and communities and thus accelerating the pace and impact of educational change in America.