Thought Leadership

Episode: “Totems, Talent & Teaching The World to Change with Derek Mitchell”(64 min)

Bill Kirst speaks to Partners in School Innovation CEO Derek Mitchell about his origin story, teachers and parents that change children’s world, and what it means to be a Change Agent focused on changing the world for the better.

“Coffee & Change” with Bill Kirst, an organizational change leader, features talks with a diverse set of guests on the topic of leading change in today's ever-changing world.

Episode: “Derek Mitchell and Scott Sampson on Regenerative Education” (52 min)

Alec Patton speaks to Partners in School Innovation CEO Derek Mitchell and Executive Director of California Academy of Sciences Scott Sampson about what “regenerative education” is, and why the world needs it right now.

“Unboxed” is a media platform that produces podcasts, videos, interviews, card decks, and curricular resources to spread good ideas that can improve schools.

Episode: “How to nurture and sustain school change in challenging times” (60 min)

Derek Mitchell talks to Stacey Caillier about what he’s learned about how to help schools get better at giving every kid what they need to thrive, and about why this work matters so much to him.

“Unboxed” is a media platform that produces podcasts, videos, interviews, card decks, and curricular resources to spread good ideas that can improve schools.

Episode: “What it Takes to Change a School” (27 min)

Justin Cohen, author of Change Agents, shares practices of schools that have managed to implement change. He covers habits that lead to school transformation, what's standing in the way for systems, and how educators can change their schools.

The Harvard EdCast is produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and hosted by Jill Anderson. It is a weekly podcast about the ideas that shape education, from early learning through college and career.

Episode: “How to Turn Challenges into Opportunities: A Conversation with Derek Mitchell Ph.D. (Part Two)” (24 min)

Lisa and Dr. Derek Mitchell explore how race affects the experiences and outcomes of students from historically marginalized communities.

“They Are Waiting for Us” with Dr. Lisa Andrew is a production of Forbes Books. Lisa speaks with inspiring guests who are making a difference in education, from parents and advocates to teachers and leaders.

Episode: “How to Turn Challenges into Opportunities: A Conversation with Derek Mitchell Ph.D. (Part One)” (24 min)

Derek Mitchell shares his personal and professional journey of becoming a passionate and visionary leader in education.

“They Are Waiting for Us” with Dr. Lisa Andrew is a production of Forbes Books. Lisa speaks with inspiring guests who are making a difference in education, from parents and advocates to teachers and leaders.

Episode: “Towards the school you want to see: Plan, Act, Reflect, Repeat” (35 min)

Justin Cohen speaks about ways a faculty can systematically improve its school. Knowing the community and having honest and difficult conversations about race are critical.

“Ethical Schools” is an initiative of Ethics In Education Network®, which offers customized professional development programs for administrators, teachers, and youth workers who wish to prioritize ethics.

Episode: “S4E7 - Gates Foundation Den Talk: Justin Cohen and Derek Mitchell on Transforming Schools from the Ground Up” (57 min)

Justin Cohen and Derek Mitchell discuss the book, Change Agents, and the practice of transforming schools from the ground up.

“High Tech High Unboxed” features stories of learning in and out of school, and interviews with teachers, students, and school leaders.

Episode: “Sara Slaughter & Derek Mitchell: Proximity and Radical Humility in Grantmaking” (62 min)

Sara Slaughter, Executive Director of the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation, and Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in Schools Innovation talk about their relationship as funder and grantee and how they have worked together to move towards a new focus on equity and justice.

“Philanthropisms” is the podcast that puts philanthropy in context. Through conversations with expert guests and deep dives.

“Supporting Educators to Become Equity Focused Change Agents” (57 min)

Justin Cohen, Derek Mitchell, Cynthia Moultrie and William Hill share first-hand experience with an equity-focused approach to school transformation that builds the capacity of educators to drive change.

Corwin, a SAGE Publishing company, is the premier provider of professional learning products and services that equip educators with the resources needed to improve teaching and learning.

“Characteristics of a Good School as an Agent of Social Change: A discussion on Change Agents” (56 min)

Justin Cohen and Derek Mitchell discuss the characteristics of a good school and what it means to be change agents. The talk covers control dynamics in school transformation, building effective teams for change, strategies, and more.

The Art of Advocacy helps people learn ways that they can develop advocacy skills in their school/community from education experts.

“The Centrality of Operations Leaders in Transformational Change” by Jennifer Cheatham and Derek Mitchell

In this article, the authors elaborate on why you can’t overlook a district’s bus drivers, nurses, custodians, accountants and others if you seek to cultivate academic excellence. They offer strategic approaches to involving and developing support staff further.

AASA's award-winning magazine provides big-picture perspectives on a broad range of issues in school system leadership and resources to support the effective operation of schools nationwide.

“From gatekeeper to ally: How educators can shift postures to help kids thrive” by Eddie Scruggs Smith and K. Kaaehuahiwi

Inspired by a conversation with a group of teenagers at an ostensibly high-performing California high school, this article addresses how educators can shift postures to help kids thrive so that they become resources instead of perceived as challengers.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

“When we listen to students, we improve our schools” by Uchenna Lewis, Amanda Faulkner, and Jesse Roe

Centering students’ perspectives in school improvement efforts is a necessity. This article addresses how educators can better hear students’ voices, and then translate that information into concrete behavioral and instructional changes.

The Learning Professional (formerly JSD) is the flagship publication of Learning Forward. Learning Forward is the only association focused solely on the most critical lever in improving schools -- building the knowledge and skills of educators.

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“When Confronting Poverty, Think Abundance, Not Scarcity” by Megan Kizer and Jesse Hinueber

In this article about equity, social-emotional learning, and classroom management, the authors cover how poverty-informed instruction starts with seeing students’ intrinsic strengths, despite systemic challenges.

ASCD empowers educators to reimagine and redesign learning through impactful pedagogy and meaningful technology use. They achieve this by offering transformative professional learning, fostering vibrant communities, and ensuring that digital tools and experiences are accessible and effective.

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“The need for schools to be trauma-responsive” by Shawn Nealy-Oparah

In schools, there are students battling with the emotional weight of carrying unprocessed traumatic memories. In this article, we share how to address and understand the needs of K-12 LGBTQ/GNC students.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

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“Clarifying misconceptions about improvement science” by Derek Mitchell, Chris Thorn, and Brian Edwards

This article clarifies and explains the difference between improvement science, continuous improvement, and more traditional data-driven methods that have been popular since the 1990s.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

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“Environmental Impact: Reinforce a Culture of Continuous Learning with These Key Elements” by Brian Edwards and Jessica Gammell

From our experience in helping educators design and implement professional learning systems, we share the elements that reflect and reinforce a culture of continuous learning and how schools can bring about that type of environment.

The Learning Professional (formerly JSD) is the flagship publication of Learning Forward. Learning Forward is the only association focused solely on the most critical lever in improving schools -- building the knowledge and skills of educators.

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“Honoring African American parents as partners in education” by Tovi C. Scruggs-Hussein

This article exhibits how and why educators must explicitly grant families of color authentic access to share their voices. These methods include not pulling rank by posture, tone, or title.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

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“Disrupting inequity through collaboration, engagement and mindset” by Brian Edwards

This article addresses how working together in teams to cultivate an equity mindset and create lessons that resonate with students of color unites educators to meet the learning needs of all students.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

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“Teaching students of color: Looking race in the face” by Brian Edwards, Derek Mitchell, and Jesse Hinueber

This article presents the four focuses that work in ensuring that schools achieve strong results with black students by addressing race directly and teaching in ways that empower students to learn. Learning flourishes when educators and black students truly see each other.

Phi Delta Kappan is the professional magazine for anyone who cares about K-12 education. In print since 1915, it features articles connecting educational research, practice, and policy.

“California needs not just more teachers but more master teachers” by Derek Mitchell

Derek Mitchell outlines how our country needs systems that will produce masters of the teaching craft and what key mindsets and skills a master teacher today must have in order to succeed, such as cultural proficiency and improvement science.

EdSource works to engage Californians on key education challenges with the goal of enhancing learning success. It does so by providing timely, useful and accurate information.

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“Building Strong School Leadership Teams to Sustain Reform” by Brian Edwards and Jessica Gammell

This article addresses how effective Instructional Leadership Teams can be integral to helping underperforming schools strengthen their leadership, professional learning systems, and core instruction.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

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“Why Teachers Make Good Learning Leaders” by Brian Edwards and Jesse Hinueber

Five educators who have all taught low-income urban children in elementary grades for several years in different parts of the United States share the conditions that help teachers emerge as leaders in their schools.

The Learning Professional (formerly JSD) is the flagship publication of Learning Forward. Learning Forward is the only association focused solely on the most critical lever in improving schools -- building the knowledge and skills of educators.

[PDF-version here]

“Essential Practices for Equity” by Brian Edwards

This article outlines 20 essential practices that align leadership, professional development, and instruction around the goal of accelerated learning to close achievement gaps.

Leadership magazine provides in-depth information about the most critical issues facing education leaders today. Each issue has a specific focus area, and articles are written by education experts and practitioners.

[PDF-version here]