Work Type
Academic Strategy, School Design, Leadership Coaching, Talent Strategy
System Type
Independent School
2021-present
Summary
Hendy has partnered with UCS on a multi-year school improvement strategy aimed at improving student academic outcomes while maintaining the positive school culture and experience for students and families. This work has included close partnership with the UCS CAO and her leadership team to build key initiatives designed at enhancing instructional rigor in UCS classrooms. These initiatives include:
- Implementation and facilitation of a cycle of shared, facilitated intellectual preparation for teacher teams in math and ELA
- Implementation of a cycle for teacher observation, feedback and coaching
- Selection and implementation of CKLA/Ampilfy ELA curriculum in grades K-8, including leader and teacher training
- Implementation of a common interim assessment strategy for mathematics in grades K-8
- Creation and implementation of an RTI strategy focused on providing tier 2 supports to students
- Regular coaching and feedback for UCS leaders aligned to instructional priorities
- Strategy support for the CAO regarding support priorities including teaching assistants, culture and behavior, and family engagement
Hendy also partnered with the Chief Strategy Officer to explore school design options to enable the school to best serve students and staff. This included the facilitation of a comprehensive process including stakeholder engagement, best practice research, decision-making and implementation planning. Hendy examined and designed effective ways to better use student and staff time, including improvements in aftercare services.
Outcomes
Outcomes of Hendy's work include systems and structures in place to support students and staff. These include:
- Leaders are following an instructional support cycle that includes observation, coaching, feedback and professional learning for all teachers in grades K-8
- UCS piloted an enrichment model in early 2025 to inform final decision-making on any design changes. The school also implemented improvements to aftercare services to best serve student and family needs.
Additionally, between 2022 and 2024, there was an increase in the number of students scoring "proficient" on state assessments in both math and ELA in almost all grade levels (grades 3-8). UCS and Hendy continue to monitor student assessment data to drive the work.