Improve education in the U.S.

I have a sister and friends who are teachers and so I have seen first hand the impact a high quality principal has on their performance and motivation, not unlike the impact of any boss on an employee. This personal observation, combined with the research, has led me to believe this is a critical issue for the success of schools and their students. Since its founding in 2001, New Leaders has prepared nearly 3,200 education leaders who reach nearly 500,000 students in more than 30 cities nationwide. Their alumni overwhelmingly work with America’s highest-need students: 78 percent of students served are low-income; 87 percent are children of color. The vast majority of their Emerging Leaders delivered gains in achievement across classrooms they supervise.

New Teacher Center is a research-based and results oriented nonprofit that focused on improving schools and districts that educate some of our nation’s lowest income students. A recent research study demonstrated that New Teacher Center’s teacher induction model increases student learning by up to five months in reading and math. They also increase the performance and tenure of teachers. NTC also has a strong financial model, as school districts pay a substantial portion of the costs of delivering the program, with private philanthropy filling in the gap.

BELL is the largest evidence-based summer learning provider in the US. They are focused on providing critical after school and summertime support to our nation’s most vulnerable students, leading to gains in their math and reading skills, which are fundamental to ongoing school performance. They do this through a research-proven model that also improves the performance of teachers and lengthens their tenure. The program operates nationally, through a network of district and YMCA partners.