Investing in the Genius of Black Innovators

Every day is an opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black innovators helping us to reimagine learning. This month we are shining a light on three Black leaders who inspire us with the power of their ideas and innovations. All students benefit when we invest in visionary leaders.

Ruben Morris dreamed up and founded Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School, the first high school in Alabama focused on expanding access and opportunity for Black students to pursue careers in aerospace and aviation.

SEE WHAT INSPIRED AAAHS >>

Inspired by her own children’s learning journey, Anashay Wright founded Disruptive Partners to help educators create schools that truly offer students a path to joy, health, and upward mobility. Watch her talk on moving past performative allyship to advance educational equity.

WATCH ANASHAY'S TALK>>

Lakisha Young founded The Oakland REACH to build the power and influence of parents seeking a better education for their children. Watch her talk on building a powerful parent movement that has forced change in schools in Oakland and beyond and led to significant gains for Black and Latino students.

WATCH LAKISHA'S TALK >>

Dream Big With NewSchools: $15M Funding Opportunity Open

Through our 2023 funding opportunity, NewSchools is providing $15 million in dream capital to innovators working to reimagine PK-12 education. This is your chance to dream big and share your bold idea with us. Submissions are due by March 29.

LEARN MORE >>

Results from 2022: What We Measured and Why it Mattered

NewSchools CEO Frances Messano discusses on our blog how we’re putting dollars to work and what we’re learning from a more seasoned and diverse cohort of innovators who are pursuing impact in new ways. “As I look back on the results we achieved in 2022, there are many milestones to celebrate and also reminders of how much work there is yet to do,” she says.

Bold, Far-Reaching Ideas to Improve Education

Frances and other leading education thinkers share ideas for how to bring about far-reaching change in education in a new collection of essays, Unlocking the Future: Toward a New Reform Agenda for K-12 Education. In her essay, Frances calls for a new definition of student success to ensure young people are supported to realize their full potential.

Deepening Digital Citizenship: A Guide for K-12 Leaders

Before joining the Learning Solutions team at NewSchools, Dr. Vanessa Monterosa designed a nationally-recognized digital citizenship program that built the digital literacy capacity of more than 14,000 educators in Los Angeles. Her new book, Deepening Digital Citizenship, is a guide for education leaders looking to implement similar systemwide programs and policies in their communities.

Next on Bright Spots: Empowering Students with Learning Differences

Join our next LinkedIn Live event on Tuesday, March 14 to be introduced to our new portfolio of innovations designed for students with learning differences. Hear why it was important for us to engage members of the learning differences community in the design of our investing strategy and why we believe the innovations that were funded have the potential to benefit all students.

RSVP TODAY >>

If you missed the last episode with Frances Messano, you can watch the recording now. It features the inspiring stories of three leaders in our current innovative schools portfolio.

WATCH THE EPISODE >>

SXSW Conference

March 6-11, 2023

Headed to Austin next month? Look for NewSchools! You will find Frances Messano on stage for featured panel conversations at SXSW EDU and mixing it up at partner and venture sessions. She will also be judging the Launch Startup Competition. NewSchools is also a finalist for the SXSW Innovation Awards. Our full schedule is below.

Beyond School: Designing Education Infrastructure | March 6
Shifting Power and Possibility in Philanthropy | March 6
Launch Competition | March 7
Leadership Journeys | March 7
SXSW Innovation Awards Finalist Showcase | March 11

Check out Transcend’s latest publication, “Transforming the Teacher Role: How Innovative Designs Can Improve Satisfaction, Retention, and Student Experiences”

The Camelback Fellowship for early-stage entrepreneurs of color, women, and non-binary founders in education opens on March 1.

LEARN MORE >>

Did you miss any #BrightSpots episodes?

FIND ALL RECORDINGS HERE >>

Stay connected and send us your ideas, questions, and feedback to commsteam@newschools.org. If you have been forwarded this email, you may sign up to receive NSVF news.