Leadership development for excellent, integrated schools
DCSC’s UnifiED School Launch Fellowship, in collaboration with host school site leaders, member schools, and local partners, recruits and prepares future school leaders of excellent, intentionally integrated, public charter schools.
Successful Fellows are entrepreneurial leaders with a deep understanding of the diverse-by-design model. They establish a clear vision and lead people toward it by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. They use data to inform decisions and measure outcomes. Ultimately, they operate integrated charter schools that lead to strong academic results for all students and close the gaps in student performance, family satisfaction, and staff retention across relevant subgroups.
Tailored residency
Fellows develop their school leadership skills through an intensive residency at a school aligned with their individual needs and goals. Fellows complete a full-year residency, under the mentorship of a Coalition member school leader. School leaders are selected through a rigorous process to ensure the Fellow will have a successful year.
Access to experts and resources
The program arms Fellows with broad access to experts and resources. Experts from across the Coalition and its partners lead all workshops and excellent school visits.
Exposure to exemplary models
Fellows are exposed to exemplary diverse-by-design models- including models of anti-bias curriculum and instruction, social-emotional learning, and building diverse, equitable, and inclusive school communities- from across the Coalition. Fellows visit at least 12 schools during three excellent school visits across the country.
Coordination for individualized learning
We coordinate across and among stakeholders to ensure all learning is individualized, relevant, and actionable. Fellows develop their own strategic plans to guide their learning throughout the Fellowship. The individual goals within Fellows’ strategic plan inform the schools they tour on excellent school visits, the professional development they participate in during Workshops, their work at Kickoff and Capstone, and their ongoing coaching.
Hear from a former Expander
“I am proud to be a part of the DCSC fellowship program because of the exposure to so many passionate diverse educational leaders. In two months, I have had the opportunity to build a network of incredibly talented professionals all dedicated to creating diverse and equitable learning experiences for all children. Many of these colleagues will be in my circle forever.”
– Alisha Gripp, Expander at Citizens of the World, Kansas City, Cohort One
Theory of Action
Tailored residency
Ongoing growth, humility, self-awareness, and critical thinking
Fellows develop their school leadership skills through an intensive residency at a school aligned to their individual needs and goals. Fellows complete a full year residency, under the mentorship of a Coalition member school leader. School leaders are selected through a rigorous process to ensure the Fellow will have a successful year.
Access to experts and resources
Choosing instructional best practices, using data to inform decisions
The Fellowship arms Fellows with broad access to experts and resources. Experts from across the Coalition lead all content sessions at Workshops, Kickoff, and Capstone. Workshops are held in conjunction with Coalition-wide events, such as Regional Convenings and the Annual Convening, so that Fellows expand their network of experts in diverse by design schools. Finally, outside presenters with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion work with Fellows over the course of the year.
Exposure to exemplary models
A demonstration of a deep understanding of diverse by design approach
During the Fellowship, Fellows are exposed to exemplary diverse-by-design models from across the Coalition. Fellows tour 12 schools during three Excellent School Visits, participate in three in-person Workshops, attend Kickoff, and present at Capstone over the course of the Fellowship.
Coordination for individualized learning
We coordinate across and among stakeholders to ensure all learning is individualized, relevant, and actionable. Fellows develop their own strategic plans to guide their learning throughout the Fellowship. The individual goals within Fellows’ strategic plan inform the schools they tour on Excellent School Visits, the professional development they participate in during Workshops, their work at Kickoff and Capstone, and their ongoing coaching.
UnifiED School Launch Fellowship Timeline
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure to exemplary models | Pre-work and Kickoff Virtual Excellent School Visits | Virtual Excellent School Visits | Targeted, in person- Excellent School Visits | |
| Access to experts & resources | Kickoff Cohort Calls | Annual Convening Cohort Calls | Cohort Call | Capstone Cohort Calls |
| Tailored residency | Full-year residency, under the mentorship of a Coalition member school leader | |||
| Coordination for individualized learning | We coordinate across and among stakeholders to ensure all learning is individualized, relevant, and actionable | |||
We catalyze and support the creation of high-quality diverse public charter schools through strategic research, advocacy, membership activities, and outreach.
Meet Our Fellows
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