CEC Resources
CEC lives our mission by providing open access to key resources for building collaborative cultures. We invite you to browse our collection of videos, podcasts, self-guided courses, reports, briefs, and other materials to support your improvement journey.
Blog Posts
Why the Final 90 Days Matter More Than Most School Leaders Think
Authored by: Crystal Conley
In this powerful and practical reflection, Crystal Conley, Field Director at CEC, challenges school leaders to rethink the final 90 days of the school year not as a time to wind down but as a critical window for designing what comes next.
Grounded in research and real world leadership experience, this piece unpacks how to identify system friction, strengthen coherence, clarify adult practice, and build the routines that actually drive lasting improvement.
If you are a school or district leader looking to move beyond surface level planning and create real momentum for next year this is a must read.
From Numbers to Narratives: Using Data to Accelerate Growth
Authored by: Elisa Brente
In her article From Numbers to Narratives: Using Data to Accelerate Growth, Elisa Brente shows how data can move from a static record to a powerful tool for guiding next instructional steps. She explains how timely, precise, and aligned responses at the classroom, school, and district levels can accelerate student growth. Used this way, data builds collective efficacy and drives continuous improvement rather than simply recording past performance.
Renewing Focus and Building Momentum at Mid-Year
Authored by: Elisa Brente
Mid-year can feel overwhelming for educators, but it also offers a chance to pause, refocus, and build momentum that lasts. In “Renewing Focus and Building Momentum at Mid Year,” Elisa Brente explores practical strategies to protect what’s working, realign priorities, and move forward with clarity and purpose. This post provides actionable insights for leaders and teachers looking to strengthen focus, sustain energy, and make meaningful progress in the second half of the school year.
From Togetherness to Transformation: Reflecting and Reimagining Collaboration for Impact
Authored by: Dr. Tiffany Layton
Collaboration is more than working side by side. It is a lever for transformation. In this blog, Dr. Tiffany Layton explores how schools can move from routine teamwork to intentional, relationship centered collaboration that drives deeper learning, equity, and sustained student growth. Learn how reflection, trust, and shared purpose turn togetherness into real impact.
Igniting Potential and The Power of Togetherness in Education
Authored by: Dr. Margo Sickele
As educators step into the second half of the school year, the mix of renewed energy and rising expectations can feel overwhelming. This post highlights why our mission matters now more than ever and how leaning into collaboration can lighten the load while amplifying impact. From research based benefits to real strategies for support, it is a reminder that none of us has to navigate this work alone. Read on to recharge your purpose and your practice in this piece written by CEC’s Dr. Margo Sickele.
Driving Transformation: Advancing Innovation to Empower Students and Educators
Authored by: Tamika Chambers
Education is evolving, and leadership must evolve with it. CEC’s Strategic Advisor, Dr. Tamika Chambers, highlights how innovation, data, and educator empowerment come together to drive meaningful change and prepare every student to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Access for All: How Culturally Responsive Practices Transform Learning
Authored by: Jon Dambek
In this blog, written by CEC’s Partner Development Manager, Jon Dambek, readers explore how culturally responsive practices can transform classrooms by ensuring every student feels seen, valued, and capable of success. Using the metaphor of a diverse garden, it explains why one-size-fits-all instruction often falls short and highlights strategies for connecting learning to students’ unique backgrounds. The post shows how celebrating difference and centering student identities as assets strengthens both learning and school community.
Shaping a Positive Future: Transforming School Climate for Success
Authored by: Christine Johns-Harris
What is the weather like at your school? In Shaping a Positive Future: Transforming School Climate for Success, Christine Johns-Harris explores how the emotional and cultural atmosphere of a school can either hold back or support success. Just as we prepare for daily weather, school leaders must plan for the conditions that impact teaching, learning, and connection. Grounded in research and practical experience, this post offers thoughtful strategies to build a climate that fosters growth, innovation, and well-being. Ready to change the forecast? Read on to discover how to create a school environment where everyone can thrive.
Ron Ferguson: Excellence with Equity
Helping Students Navigate the Worlds in Which They Live
Video 1 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson shares information related to the many settings that children live in every day, and how educators can help students navigate those settings in a way that will lead to social and academic success.
Closing the Achievement Gap
Video 2 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson discusses the importance of both excellence and equity to ensure the needs of ALL students are met. He shares the concept of group proportional equality. This is achieved when a district's already high achieving...
Building a Movement
Video 3 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson discusses the movement that is taking hold with increasing urgency to close the achievement gap and ensure excellence with equity for all children throughout the nation. He shares how stakeholders - including...
Inspiring Agency
Video 4 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson discusses how to support students to make their way in the world, build a successful life and care about others. He defines agency as the capacity and propensity to take purposeful initiative. Students effective...
Why Test Scores Matter
Video 5 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson talks about the importance of standardized tests, saying they measure the skills for which employers will pay. While he does not defend the current system, he does share that his image for the ideal system...
Serving Kids Takes Leadership
Video 6 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson discusses the impact of a teacher on the lives of students. He shares that the purpose of a teacher is to protect and serve children through leadership. He encourages teachers to stand up for students, even at...
Seeding Success
Video 7 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson shares information about the home/school connection and its importance in the success of students. He discusses a project titled "Seeding Success Zero-to-Three" and shares one outcome of the project called the...
How Teaching Predicts Agency-Related Factors
Video 8 of 8. Author and Harvard professor Ron Ferguson discusses the 7 C's of Effective Teaching which include Care, Confer, Captivate, Consolidate, Clarify, Challenge, and Classroom Management. He shares information about the impact of each of these areas on student...
Building Strong Collaborative School Culture
Podcast: Empowering Educational Excellence: Unleashing the Power of Results-Driven Teams
In this podcast, CEC interviewed Assistant Superintendent Kelly Zimmerman from Berkeley School District 87 about the impact of Result-Driven Teams.
Podcast: Creating Culture and Psychological Safety within Your Organization
In this podcast, Elevated Talent Consulting CTO Traci Scherck interviews CEC's Executive Director Shelley Taylor to discuss how to create great company culture in your organization. Listen to the podcast via Apple Podcasts. Listen to the podcast via Google Podcasts....
Blog: Tips to Engage Stakeholders and Build Commitment
Arlana Bedard teamed up with CEC partner Envisio to create a blog on ways to develop a strategic plan that has staying power. Use the link below to find Arlana's ten tips on how to engage stakeholders and build commitment in your school district strategic planning...
Podcast: Conflict Resolution with Mannu Sikka
In this podcast, Beginning Teacher Wednesdays host Jen Hawkins interviews CEC Consultant Mannu Sikka to discuss Mannu's experiences as a beginning teacher and learn strategies that all educators can use when faced with conflict. Listen to the podcast via Apple...
Video: The Impact of Labor-Management Collaboration
Dr. Saul Rubinstein, Rutgers University, and his colleague Dr. John McCarthy, Cornell University, have been leading a national research project to investigate the impact of labor-management collaboration (LMC) on student learning. The research is based on the idea...
Video: Labor Management Collaboration: Rockford’s Journey
Learn how Rockford Public Schools had positive impacts on the district’s culture and student outcomes through a comprehensive partnership approach with the Catalyst for Educational Change (CEC). Rockford Public Schools and CEC partnered on new approaches to...
Podcast: The Power of Labor-Management Collaboration
In this podcast, The Power of Labor-Management Collaboration, CEC sat down with leaders from Batavia School District to discuss the impact of labor-management collaboration can have on a system and ultimately students. Batavia has been a partner in their...
Podcast: The Power of a Listening and Learning System
CEC is working across the country with administrators and union leaders to build success in a labor management approach in districts. Ann discusses the impact when districts create a "listening and learning system" that includes a District Leadership Team (DLT),...
Sparking School Design Thinking
Breaking the Cycle: How do you really make change?
Through the last five blogs, we delved into the complexity of our educational system, and the systems and structures that make sustainable, meaningful change so difficult. School systems and structures are under regular scrutiny, and undergo constant efforts with...
Coherence & Change Efforts
In our last blog post, we focused on the reasons it is so compelling to do things the way we’ve always done them, while still wanting very different results from what we are getting currently, and often using measures that either don’t fully address or provide...
Gravitational Pull Back to the Way We’ve Always Done It
In our last blog post, we discussed the politics related to schools and education, with multiple “boundaries” that are not always working together, making systemic change increasingly complex. Key to the needed organizational change is getting all parts of the system...
Yes, Schools are Political.
In today’s schools, we have created a system where learners learn despite the system, not as a result of it. Many of our institutions utilize a structure that sorts and selects students (e.g. Advanced Placement courses, Gifted & Talented Education, Special...
Learning is Complex. Teaching is Complex.
As we outlined in our last blog, the education system is incredibly complex. This edition focuses on learning and teaching in this complex system. Learning: a process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences....
What is So Complex About Education?
Teaching and educational reform are topics that easily spark engagement with all stakeholders. Most citizens care deeply about this topic and have opinions on the role of the educational system in the United States. Horace Mann is arguably the founding figure of...
SEL, Resilience, and Trauma-Informed Practices for Schools
Podcast: Becoming More Trauma Informed
In this podcast, CEC interviewed Dr. Tali Raviv with the Center for Childhood Resilience about how schools can become more trauma informed and on how the entire school community can help students who are in need. Dr. Raviv co-authored a book recently released titled...
Podcast: Social Emotional Learning
In this podcast focusing on social emotional learning, Mary McDonald, the Senior Director of Regional and National Work with Catalyst for Educational Change, speaks with Ruth Cross and Gail Capps. Ruth is a retired teacher, principal and assistant superintendent and...
Podcast: Angela Jerabek: Building Assets, Reducing Risks
This installment of the podcast series "Voices from the Field" features a discussion with Angela Jerabek, executive director of the BARR Center. Angela talks about her experience helping schools meet the academic, social and emotional needs of all students using the...
Podcast: Teacher Wellness and Student Achievement
In this installment of the podcast series "Voices from the Field" features a discussion with Loukia Mastrodimos, a former teacher and administrator who now runs Erini Yoga and Wellness. Shelley Taylor, a senior director from the Catalyst for Educational Change, digs...
Video: Partnership for Resilience: An Emerging Partnership
Part one in a new series highlighting the emerging work of the Southland Initiative, which focuses on the damaging effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It wasn't until a backyard barbecue that siblings Audrey and David Soglin realized they had been...
Video: Partnership for Resilience: A Journey Towards Trauma-Informed Schools
Learn how the Partnership for Resilience, originally known as the “Southland Education and Health Initiative,” is working with teachers, administrators, and health care professionals to meet the needs of students impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This...
Webinar: SEL and Mindfulness are Keys to a Healthier You
You are an educator. You are on duty 52 weeks a year. You have a demanding job, as well as personal responsibilities. You are on constant overload. Being an educator can be a very emotionally taxing job. You are not immune to the effects of stress. This webinar shares...
Webinar: Creating Equity and SEL in Schools
Educators have a duty to establish an even playing field so that all students have opportunities to maximize their learning potential. Social emotional learning is a vehicle for creating equity in our classrooms and schools. This webinar describes how the...
Webinar: The Foundations Every Teacher Needs to Know
Today’s classrooms are expected to be more interactive, collaborative, and rigorous than ever before. Research has shown that when educators attend to the social emotional needs of the students and offer instruction in the skills necessary to successfully engage with...
Podcast: Empowering Educational Excellence: Unleashing the Power of Results-Driven Teams
In this podcast, CEC interviewed Assistant Superintendent Kelly Zimmerman from Berkeley School District 87 about the impact of Result-Driven Teams.
Browse all Free Resources
Podcast: Becoming More Trauma Informed
In this podcast, CEC interviewed Dr. Tali Raviv with the Center for Childhood Resilience about how schools can become more trauma informed and on how the entire school community can help students who are in need. Dr. Raviv co-authored a book recently released titled...
Podcast: Social Emotional Learning
In this podcast focusing on social emotional learning, Mary McDonald, the Senior Director of Regional and National Work with Catalyst for Educational Change, speaks with Ruth Cross and Gail Capps. Ruth is a retired teacher, principal and assistant superintendent and...
Podcast: Angela Jerabek: Building Assets, Reducing Risks
This installment of the podcast series "Voices from the Field" features a discussion with Angela Jerabek, executive director of the BARR Center. Angela talks about her experience helping schools meet the academic, social and emotional needs of all students using the...
Podcast: Teacher Wellness and Student Achievement
In this installment of the podcast series "Voices from the Field" features a discussion with Loukia Mastrodimos, a former teacher and administrator who now runs Erini Yoga and Wellness. Shelley Taylor, a senior director from the Catalyst for Educational Change, digs...
Video: Partnership for Resilience: An Emerging Partnership
Part one in a new series highlighting the emerging work of the Southland Initiative, which focuses on the damaging effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It wasn't until a backyard barbecue that siblings Audrey and David Soglin realized they had been...
Video: Partnership for Resilience: A Journey Towards Trauma-Informed Schools
Learn how the Partnership for Resilience, originally known as the “Southland Education and Health Initiative,” is working with teachers, administrators, and health care professionals to meet the needs of students impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This...
Report: Collaborating in a Crisis: Working Together to Safely Reopen Our School Buildings
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the very real systemic racism we are facing, the National Labor-Management Partnership (NLMP) has released a new document focused on how to safely reopen schools in the midst of these crises. CEC is part of the coalition of...
Podcast: Eugene Robinson, Jr.: Ensuring Postsecondary Success for All Students
In this episode of 'Voices from the Field,' Arlana Bedard, a Programs & Services Director with Catalyst for Educational Change, speaks with Eugene Robinson, Jr., the Director of Postsecondary Support & Strategy with the Chicago Public Schools Office of Network...
Video: NEA-CEC Early Career: Leadership Fellows Program Shows Strong Results
The National Education Association (NEA) and Catalyst for Educational Change (CEC) have developed an innovative program for supporting early career educators and propelling them into new leadership opportunities. The NEA/CEC Early Career Leadership Fellow (ECLF)...
Report: Finding the Power in IL-EMPOWER: Talent Management
In order for school improvement efforts to be successful, schools need teachers and leaders who are willing and able to execute the improvement strategy (Player, Hambrick Hitt, & Robinson, 2014). That is, low performing schools must have the ability to recruit,...