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Welcome to this edition of the Opportunity Culture® Newsletter! Opportunity Culture® portal subscribers receive these newsletters automatically as part of their district’s portal benefits (log in here). Not already subscribed? Join our mailing list here! |
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OPPORTUNITY CULTURE® VIDEO
Why Educators Like the Partial-Release Team Leader Role |
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Districts and schools love the Multi-Classroom Leader® role, in which a teacher with a record of student growth leads a small teaching team. But which version of the role should they choose, full-release or partial-release? Data from schools using Opportunity Culture® teaching teams suggests better student results with the partial-release role: Schools using only partial-release were 80% more likely to make schoolwide high growth than schools using both versions or full-release only.
Hear a sampling of what educators have said about partial-release in interviews over the past decade. |
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PODCAST
Learning Can’t Wait Podcast |
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Bryan Hassel and Kendall King of Public Impact® were recent guests on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast—check it out! They discussed how innovative staffing models like the Opportunity Culture® initiative are transforming schools across the country. From the podcast website: |
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“With compelling research results and a bold vision for scale, Bryan and Kendall share how Public Impact is working to ensure every student has access to high-quality teaching—every year, in every classroom. Whether you're a teacher, policymaker, funder, or advocate, this episode will leave you inspired by what’s possible when we reimagine how schools are staffed and supported.” |
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VIRTUAL DESIGN
Staffing Workshops Added!
Do you work with a district looking for an affordable, time-conserving way to get strategic staffing designed—creating a plan that produces results for students and teachers? Due to popular demand, we’ve added dates through the summer and fall for our two-day virtual workshops that can get the job done!
Design transformative teaching teams led by an excellent, proven teacher-leader, and the structures to support them. |
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Choose from: July 16–17; October 22–23; November 12–13; December 10–11, all from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
Along with these interactive sessions for department leaders, a district team gets eight coaching calls and online support, and full access to the Opportunity Culture® portal. |
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Choose from: May 13–14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. ET; July 23–24; November 5–6; December 3–4, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.
For school teams following the district workshops. Along with the interactive sessions for a team of educators and leaders from each school, school teams get two coaching calls to finalize their plans, full access to the Opportunity Culture® portal during the design phase, and the opportunity to gain provisional-level Opportunity Culture® certification status. |
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SHOUT-OUT
Welcome to Newly Certified Schools
Congratulations to the newest schools to attain Certified Opportunity Culture School™ status for 2024–25! Since the last newsletter, 10 have received Level 2 certification—in Ector County, Madison Parish, and Nash County districts—and many more have received Level 1 and provisional certification. Is your school on the list? Check it out on the Opportunity Culture® Dashboard. |
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CERTIFICATION
This Month in Opportunity Culture® Certification |
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Don’t delay—get certified before the June 30 deadline and share your school’s accomplishment with prospective teachers and families! Review this quick one-pager for more, then join an upcoming live webinar for personal support to submit your details on the spot. Webinars are planned for May 22 and June 9 and 10. See here for registration links. |
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BLOG
3 Moves to Reverse Student Learning Slide
Public Impact® Co-President Bryan Hassel recently made the case for three moves the nation should make. Schools using Opportunity Culture® teaching teams point the way!
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Embed small-group tutoring in regular classrooms by boosting the time all adults spend on it for all students.
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Spread accountable teacher-leader roles reserved for teachers with prior high growth or similar results. These leaders can organize schedules and lead adults to ensure that small-group tutoring lessons are determined by data about what students need.
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Invest in completing high-quality instructional materials with differentiated lessons ready for small groups, in core subjects, for all grades. Rate instructional materials according to their student learning results, first and foremost.
Teams led by great teachers can incorporate a variety of tutors and tutoring modes—including other teachers, paraprofessionals, aspiring teachers, community volunteers, and even AI tutors.
Some schools have already caught on. One school in North Carolina’s Wilson County got off-the-charts student growth using teacher-led teams to propel tutoring. And in Virginia, Winchester Public Schools offers another example, with state-leading growth in several grades and subjects. |
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NORTH CAROLINA DISTRICTS
Advanced Teaching Roles Grants Webinar
Are you in a North Carolina district that hasn’t yet received state funding to plan your advanced teaching roles—or know someone who is? Get help submitting your application for the next funding round, open now!
Since 2016, over 65% of districts receiving Advanced Teaching Roles funds have used Opportunity Culture® staffing designs, founded by Public Impact®, in their applications. Partnering with us lowers the lift of applying and bases your application on a model with a record of success.
Join us on May 20 at 10 a.m. for an Opportunity Culture® ATR information session to learn more, and take other key steps now. (Can’t attend? Please register so we can send you the recording!) |
| REGISTER |
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PORTAL
This Month in the Opportunity Culture® Portal |
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Do you know what’s available in the portal to assist and inform principals and MCL™ teaching teams? Check these resources out this month! (Don’t have access to the portal? Learn more about how districts and schools can get access.)
For team leaders
Explore the “MCL™ Scoreboard” tool in the portal’s Tools room. This tool is especially helpful at the beginning of the year, so mark it for next year—but it can also help you down the homestretch of this year. |
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Track student progress across major assessments, including end-of-year assessments
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Set clear interim goals and identify reteach and support priorities early
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Guide team planning conversations using real-time data snapshots
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Highlight and share successful practices that drive student growth
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Celebrate student and team wins throughout the year—and at the finish line!
Use the scoreboard to keep your team motivated, focused, and continually moving toward stronger results.
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For all educators
Thousands of educators nationwide shared their voices in the recent annual, anonymous Opportunity Culture® Survey! The results offer valuable insights into teachers and staff reactions to their school’s experiences, highlighting what’s working well and where to focus improvements to better support students and educators. Check out your district’s and school’s reports so you can celebrate wins and plan for even stronger effects!
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Navigate to the Monitor Room in the portal.
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Click on "OC Educator Survey."
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Select your school to download your full report.
And use the Tools room’s resources to support your school in attaining certification or moving up a level, such as communication templates to help principals share Opportunity Culture® details with their campus, tutoring resources helpful for small-group planning and data analysis; and sample schedules for the planning and leadership time elements of certification. |
Coming soon:
In 2025–26, look to the portal for guidance on general school staffing design; using high-quality instructional materials; and using AI in teacher leadership.
Get the latest right when it’s added by watching LinkedIn for announcements, and in this newsletter.
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COACHING
This Month in Executive and Leadership Coaching
Did you know Public Impact® offers executive and leadership coaching? Exceptional schools begin with exceptional leadership at every level.
Our services develop district leaders, principals, and leadership teams of principals, APs, and teacher-leaders with customized, in-person and virtual support. We combine targeted, data-based professional development, individualized coaching, and strategic planning to build leadership capacity, strengthen instructional practice, and drive lasting gains in student learning.
If you’re looking for results: In one district partnership, 57% of supported schools exited low-performing status, and 71% exceeded growth targets within the first year, showing how focused leadership development and system-wide coaching can create rapid, measurable improvement for students.
We’re passionate about helping districts unlock leadership potential, accelerate instructional excellence, and create lasting success for students! Contact us to learn more and get started. |
| CONTACT |
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Step Up to the Plate!
Teaching teams, prepare to take the field next year with our summer professional learning! Last summer’s training hit some homers with educators, as participants told us in exit surveys: |
“The strategies, practice, and support were so good. I feel better equipped.”
“Having the time to collaborate with our school and district team was great.”
“I am leaving understanding so much more about the role I am taking on.” |
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You’ll learn how to knock one out of the park with leadership and instructional excellence training for the Multi-Classroom Leader®, Master Team Reach™, and Reach Associate™ roles. Not on an Opportunity Culture® team? Catch the skills you need for other advanced teaching roles as well. |
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Whether you’re the coach or a key team player, there’s lots of learning here for you—so register today! |
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EDUCATOR WEBINARS
From Reflection to Planning to Launch
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Learn how great educators use the results of one school year to plan and launch the next! |
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As this year winds down, check out the recordings of last spring’s webinar series with three Opportunity Culture® teaching team leaders. Alex Tobin, Tonya Reaves, and Sean Carberry walk viewers through doing a deep review in late spring of the hits and misses of the current year, to using this year’s results to plan ahead for the next school year, then launching the next school year. Watch these three, 30-minute webinars packed with quick tips. |
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RESOURCES
Tools You Need Now
Do you want to learn more, or have your teaching teams learn more, over the summer about the science of reading? Check out our “Teaching Reading” resources, including: |
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