The Challenge
Senior talent leaders in large public school districts are responsible for major initiatives impacting hundreds or even thousands of employees. This is especially true for leaders responsible for educator effectiveness initiatives. At the same time, these leaders are typically the only person in their district in that role. Leaders often do not have access to a thought partner who has the same role as them, or is responsible for the same outcomes.
The Opportunity
The District Educator Effectiveness Leader (DEEL) cohort aims to support senior-level leaders in their respective districts by way of a facilitated cohort to promote building connections, sharing ideas, and solving problems. The cohort will meet virtually 4-6 times over the course of the school year to focus on shared learning and problems of practice.
The goal for cohort meetings is to:
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Have a “safe space” to learn new ideas, make connections, and problem-solve
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Learn about what works and what doesn’t in other large urban districts
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Explore topics of immediate interest, and engage in shared professional learning aligned to immediate priorities
The District Educator Effectiveness Leader cohort experience is for senior-level leaders in large, urban public school districts who are responsible for initiatives related to employee effectiveness. Often, individuals in this role are the only person in their district with this responsibility. The aim of the cohort is to provide opportunities for these leaders to build community with others in similar roles - to build connections, share ideas, and solve problems related to educator effectiveness initiatives.
This cohort is a fit for you if you:
- Hold a senior leadership role in the talent office of a large urban school district
- Are responsible for educator effectiveness initiatives across roles (teachers, administrators, support staff, central office, etc.)
- Are accountable for strategic priorities in your district, and execute your work through management of a team and by leading through influence
- Recognize the benefits of engaging with peers from other districts and commit to prioritizing and attending cohort meetings
2025-2026 Cohort Members
Tori Austin
Sr. Executive Director, Office of Continuous Improvement,
San Antonio ISD
Amber Daniel
Executive Director of Performance Management
Houston Independent School District
Michael Herring
Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness
Chicago Public Schools
Chrishele Kingdom
Senior Director, Assessment
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Dr. Charity Magruder
Director of Employee Performance,
Prince George's County Public Schools
Jesse Papia
Director of Employee Effectiveness, Baltimore City Public Schools
Richel Raich-Cantu
Sr. Director of Talent Development, Innovation, & Strategy,
IDEA Public Schools
Yolanda Stanislaus
Director of the Department of Professional Growth Systems,
Montgomery County Public Schools
Tiffany Suggs
Director of Effectiveness,
Gwinnett County Public Schools
2024-2025 DEEL Cohort
Tori Austin,
San Antonio ISD
Michael Herring,
Chicago Public Schools
Leta Johnson-Garner,
School District of Philadelphia
Dr. Charity Magruder,
Prince George's County Public Schools
Jesse Papia,
Baltimore City Public Schools
Richel Raich-Cantu,
IDEA Public Schools
Chrishele Kingdom,
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Yolanda Stanislaus,
Montgomery County Public Schools
Meet Our Facilitator
Jessica Wilson
Hendy Avenue Consultant
Jessica joined Hendy Avenue in September 2017 because she has a passion for improving outcomes for children through supporting the adults who serve them. During her tenure at Hendy, Jessica has led several projects focused on talent strategy, including the Independence Mission Schools as they aim to implement a more rigorous instructional framework, and to design teacher leadership positions to support that framework; the Delaware Department of Education as they aim to revise and reinvent their teacher evaluation framework; and Promise Academy, a drop-out recovery high school in Cleveland, as the school re-starts to continue to serve youth in Cleveland.
Learn More About the District Educator Effectiveness Cohort
We are seeking senior-level leaders from large, urban public school districts for our District Educator Effectiveness Cohort. Participants in this cohort are responsible for driving initiatives related to employee effectiveness, often serving as the sole individual in their district tasked with this critical role. Through this program, members will have the opportunity to enhance their skills, gain valuable insights, and build a supportive network of peers dedicated to improving educational outcomes in their districts.
Want More Information?
If you encounter questions during either you application or nomination process, please reach out! You can email jessicawilson@hendyavenue.org with your inquiries.