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In Episode 4 of Rising from the Margins, we explore the transformative journey of Harkness Elementary in Sacramento, California, a school striving for coherence amidst challenges. The focus on intentional collaboration and clarity through the Intensive Assistance Model is reshaping their culture and outcomes. This episode dives into the heart of what it means to move from fragmentation to unity and from tradition to innovation.

What You’ll Hear

• The challenges of navigating educational systems in a low-performing school with deep community roots.
• How Harkness Elementary applies the four essential questions to build coherence and focus on essential standards:
  1. What do we want students to learn?
  2. How do we know if they’ve learned it?
  3. What will we do if they’ve learned it?
  4. What will we do if they haven’t learned it?
• Stories from educators like Principal Scheeline and 22-year veteran teacher Miss Martinez, who share the impact of fostering collaboration and shared ownership among staff.
• A look at their visual data wall, a tool for tracking student progress in real time and celebrating wins that foster motivation for both students and teachers.
• The power of stripping away distractions and focusing on the fundamentals to create meaningful, sustainable change.

Key Highlights

• Teacher Empowerment: Educators at Harkness are building a culture of “we” rather than “I,” fostering collaboration across grade levels and embracing shared leadership.
• Data-Driven Impact: Real-time data tracking and collaboration are helping teachers identify challenges, celebrate successes, and focus on solutions that matter.
• Sustainable Practices: The Intensive Assistance Model is paving the way for long-term transformation, equipping teachers with the tools to sustain progress even amidst funding uncertainties.
• Community and Clarity: Harkness’ focus on essential standards ensures every student is prepared to succeed in their current and future grade levels.

Why It Matters
This episode highlights the human side of educational transformation, showcasing how schools like Harkness are not just implementing systems but reshaping their culture. The Intensive Assistance Model offers a framework for collaboration, clarity, and empowerment, reminding us that change begins with teachers and their dedication to their students.

Listen Now
🎧 Tune in to Rising from the Margins: Episode 4 for an inspiring look at how one school is rewriting its story and paving the way for a brighter future.

Listen Here

Stay Connected
For more episodes and resources, visit CCEE. Don’t miss the next episode, where we explore a district that has implemented the Intensive Assistance Model district-wide with transformative results.

In this compelling episode of Rising from the Margins, we take an in-depth look at Highland Elementary in Inglewood, California, as they navigate the challenges of receivership and embrace the transformative power of the Intensive Assistance Model. Through the voices of teachers, administrators, and educational leaders, this episode highlights the critical role of collaborative leadership, culture building, and coherence in driving meaningful change.

What You’ll Hear

• The reality of teaching in a system under receivership and the resilience of educators at Highland Elementary.
• The foundation of the Intensive Assistance Model: 51 days of coaching focused on leadership, collaboration, and content.
• The power of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to rebuild leadership, culture, and coherence from the ground up.
• Insightful commentary from educational leaders like Dr. Stephanie Gregson, Deputy Executive Director of CCEE, and Dr. Bernadette Lucas, Chief Academic Officer for Inglewood, on shifting school culture and empowering teachers.
• How shared meaning and a common language create sustainable systems of support for students and educators.

Key Highlights

• Resilience in Adversity: Despite systemic challenges, teachers at Highland continue to innovate and support each other, demonstrating unparalleled commitment to their students.
• Shared Leadership: The PLC model fosters teacher agency, empowering educators to lead and collaborate to solve classroom and schoolwide challenges.
• Sustainability and Coherence: Through a focus on essential standards and structured collaboration, Highland is embedding sustainable practices that will thrive beyond the three-year project.

Why It Matters
This episode underscores that change is not just about implementing new systems—it’s about creating a process that empowers individuals to take ownership and lead transformation from within. The Intensive Assistance Model offers a blueprint for how schools can shift from fragmented efforts to unified, coherent systems that support students and educators alike.

Listen Now
🎧 Tune in to Rising from the Margins: Episode 3 to hear the inspiring stories of Highland Elementary’ s educators and their journey toward creating a thriving school community.

Listen Here

Stay Connected
For more episodes and resources, visit CCEE. Don’t miss the next episode, where we explore a district in Sacramento implementing the Intensive Assistance Model.