Story

May 5, 2025

A-G Graduates Step by Step

Modesto City Schools Superintendent Sara Noguchi says “To ask a group of teachers, principals, central office staff, to do something new, that was a hard sell, but I just said, trust me. Trust me in this. And, if it’s really too much and it’s not hitting the mark at the end of the year, then we can walk away. Now we’re opening up our third cohort. So they’ve seen the benefit. Teachers see the benefit, principals see the benefit, and central sees the benefit.”

March 3, 2025

Become a Stanford Early Education Leadership Fellow

The Stanford University Principal Institute for Excellence in Early Education is offering a new one year program designed for teams of two to five elementary principals and one principal supervisor. Through the generous support from philanthropic donations, this program is available at no cost (districts pay their own travel). Applications are due by April 15, 2025.

September 1, 2022

The Promise of TK Starts with Adult Collaboration

When third-grade teacher…

September 1, 2022

How Azusa Fosters Growth in the Early Learning Years

Alicia Vargas-Smith, a preschool…

September 1, 2022

A Recipe for Early Learning Success in Monterey Peninsula

In Monterey Peninsula Unified…

August 3, 2021

Going Slow to Go Fast: How the Azusa School District Found its Pace

Before testing out approaches, the Azusa team had to slow down.

August 3, 2021

Thinking Outside the Book

When Vicky Armstrong, chief academic officer at Dinuba Unified School District, first came to the district and visited early elementary classrooms, she didn’t see much student writing posted on the walls or books around the classroom. Teachers were teaching straight from the textbook – page by page. And she could tell teachers felt constrained by […]

July 19, 2021

Engaging a Strategic Partner

Committing to improving college access for Black, Latinx, and disadvantaged students.