Object lessons in political savvy
Yesterday, I woke up to the latest in a series of object lessons in political savvy for education entrepreneurs. My alarm clock radio is set to NPR, and this morning, I hazed into consciousness listening to a terrific piece by Claudio Sanchez on the growing field of teacher residency programs. The piece focused mostly on […]
I see i3 …
With 29 days until the application deadline, we got a first look this week at what the giant pile of applications might look like. April 1 was the deadline for applicants for the Investing in Innovation (i3) fund to turn in e-mails indicating their intent to apply for grants under the $650 million fund. Take […]
Telling stories with letters and pixels
All eyes are on education entrepreneurs these days. Parents and communities are watching to see whether chronically failing schools can be turned around by new operators, whether new charter schools will make a difference for low-income students, and whether new ways of preparing teachers and new tools for instruction will change the way classrooms work. […]
NewSchools Summit 2010: Let the Countdown Begin!
Welcome to the brand new NewSchools Summit Web site! We hope this site helps you navigate our flagship annual event before, during and after the in-person convening, and that this blog expands on last year’s (see 2009 posts below) by creating some momentum for the discussions that will take place in Washington, DC on May […]
Joanne S. Weiss named to lead Race to the Top
During a video-telecast speech at the 2009 NewSchools Venture Fund Summit, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that Joanne S. Weiss has been named to lead the $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Race to the Top monies will be disbursed to […]
CoP Update: Competency Models and Organizational Success
A competency model is a framework that identifies the key skills, behaviors, and attitudes required to achieve individual professional growth and, by extension, organizational success. From 2003 to 2008, Google, Inc. grew in size from 1,000 to 15,000 employees. As a result, during this time Google faced difficult challenges vis-à-vis recruitment, skills development, and, in […]
CoP Update: Developing Leaders in Growing Organizations
What is leadership? What does it mean to be an effective leader? How do organizations develop those among their ranks to become effective leaders? According to Jean Martin, Managing Director of the Corporate Executive Board (CEB), many organizations are unable properly to identify “high-potential” employees (those capable of becoming effective organizational leaders) among their ranks. […]
Who’s the man behind design thinking? More on David Kelley.
“David is the kind of person you aspire to become. He’s like a brainy Muppet. You want to hug him, stick by him, and support what he stands for. He doesn’t wear a fur stole or sunglasses. He’s like the guy you run into at the 7-11 getting a Slurpee. I like the idea that […]
A meeting of the minds
Since 1998, NewSchools has worked to transform public education for underserved children. We have supported many of the nation’s highest performing entrepreneurial organizations and continue to work closely with them to create systemic change. The NewSchools Summit is an invitation-only gathering of leaders from across the education, business, policy and nonprofit sectors. This year’s theme […]