The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.
Leading for Equity and Excellence Program
Almost daily, education policymakers are reminded of the role that race and culture play in our society, yet they often lack opportunities for open, honest dialogue about their influence on teaching and learning.
The Leading for Equity and Excellence Program (LEEP) is a professional development resource for state policymakers committed to advancing equity in education. LEEP’s comprehensive educational programming and technical assistance builds the capacity of state boards to ensure equal access to excellent learning opportunities for all students. Participants learn to apply an equity lens to policymaking while increasing their capacity to engage in courageous conversations that identify root causes and strengthen state policy.
“[LEEP] sessions directed me to have more courage to have conversations about race, equity, and collaboration with state board members, DOE staff, and legislators.” – LEEP Participant
With passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the primary responsibility for ensuring education equity shifted to state policymakers. LEEP represents the next level of NASBE’s commitment to promote high-quality education for all students by building the capacity of state board members to recognize and address inequities in meaningful, systemic ways. Since its inception in 2017, LEEP has coached state board members representing 15 states and the District of Columbia. What could be different in your equity leadership if you were able to better engage diverse perspectives during decision making?
TWO WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN LEEP
LEEP offers two tracks for professional development: LEEP National Cohort and LEEP State Policy Network…
The LEEP National Cohort is for individual state board members looking for a shared learning experience with a diverse community of professionals from around the country. During the eight-week course, participants build their capacity to identify personal core values for leadership; engage different perspectives while recognizing their own biases; examine the influence of political ideologies, cultural perceptions, and economic structures on public education; and assess strategies to remove structural barriers and close achievement gaps.
The LEEP State Policy Network fosters collaboration between state boards, state education agencies, and other state and local leaders working to advance equity. State teams hear from national experts, participate in peer-to-peer discussions, and receive customized training and technical assistance to help them engage different perspectives and strengthen their collective role. Participants say they appreciate the opportunities LEEP offers to learn from others and develop the confidence to engage in tough conversations about educational equity.
Since its inception in 2017, LEEP has coached state board members representing 15 states and the District of Columbia. NASBE is proud to have a strong, diverse cadre of state board leaders participating in LEEP, including: Jenna Ahner, Executive Director, Delaware State Board of Education; Danielle Allen, Researcher, North Carolina State Board of Education; Audrey Altieri, Education Program Specialist, North Carolina State Board of Education; Brooke Axiotis, Member, Iowa State Board of Education; Matthew Bristow-Smith, North Carolina Principal of the Year and Advisor to the State Board, North Carolina State Board of Education; Jill Camnitz, Member, North Carolina State Board of Education; Cindy Davis, Member, Utah State Board of Education; Karen DuBois-Walton, Member, Connecticut State Board of Education; William Durham, Member, Indiana State Board of Education; Woody Exley, Member, Connecticut State Board of Education; James Ford, Member, North Carolina State Board of Education; Emily Gasoi, Member, DC State Board of Education; Kathy Gornik, Former Member, Kentucky Board of Education; Jennifer Graviet, Member, Utah State Board of Education; Vermelle Greene, Member, Maryland State Board of Education; John-Paul Hayworth, Executive Director, DC State Board of Education; John Heineman, Retired Principal, Nebraska; Patsy Koch Johns, Member, Nebraska State Board of Education; Janice Mak, Member, Arizona State Board of Education; Kenneth Mason, Member, Georgia State Board of Education; Freebird McKinney, North Carolina Teacher of the Year and Advisor to the State Board, North Carolina State Board of Education; Nan Eilleen Mead, Member, New York State Board of Regents; Isau Metes, Organizational Specialist, Nebraska State Education Association; Mariah Morris, North Carolina Teacher of the Year and Advisor to the State Board, North Carolina State Board of Education; Deborah Neary, Member, Nebraska State Board of Education; Felicia Ortiz, Member, Nevada State Board of Education; Luis O. Reyes, Member, New York State Board of Regents; Zainab Rida, Equity Officer, Nebraska State Board of Education; John Skreeta, Administrator, Educational Services Unit 6, Nebraska; Whitney Sweeney, President, Delaware State Board of Education; Laurieanne Thorpe, Member, Utah State Board of Education; Deanna Townsend-Smith, Director of Board Operations and Policy, North Carolina State Board of Education; Bob Trefrey, Ex-Officio Member, Connecticut State Board of Education; Tabari Wallace, North Carolina Principal of the Year and Advisor to the State Board of Education, North Carolina; Kim Wayne, Member, Iowa State Board of Education; Kimberly Wilkins, Deputy Commissioner, New York State Department of Education
ABOUT LEEP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
LEEP Technical Assistance provides targeted support to state boards leading systemic equity transformation…
Services are offered through direct consultation with one of our subject matter experts and delivered through one-on-one discussions, small-group facilitation, or customized online training.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
The LEEP National Cohort is a great opportunity to take your equity leadership to the next level…
Participants should be able to participate in each of the four meetings (virtual and in person) and be able to complete all assignments. Participants will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to equity, openness to exploring issues of race and culture in education, and leadership potential after the course.
Please contact Kimberly Charis, NASBE’s senior equity consultant, at education@culturally-responsive.com with any questions or to request the link to our online application.
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