;/("0(<&-#&3#?"3)/=0)(*"&-#5.&9./:#G*H#I".# A04**-#;/("0(<&-#64&'<(*".9#)4.#6&=3.#*+# $J=()1#("#5()./&01# by Brett Bishop, Anthony Hill, and Kerry Purcell Mr. Bishop is a Lead Senior Consultant with Focused Schools and a member of the Leadership Team. He is an expert facilitator of professional development, executive coach, and a technical assistance provider to school and district leaders across the country. Brett has provided support to hundreds of school leadership teams, school administration, and district office leaders, as they work to develop strong systems and structures that get results. Brett began his education career in the Springfield, MA Public Schools. During twelve years in the district, Brett served as a teacher and assistant principal before becoming the principal of the East Street School in Ludlow, MA. Under his leadership, the school made significant gains in student achievement, was removed from In Need of Improvement status, and the district was one of only two in the state to move out of Corrective Action. The school was also recognized by the Massachusetts Legislature for outstanding work in creating trauma-sensitive learning environments. Brett recently partnered with Kerry Purcell, co-author of their newly released book, Focused Schools: Transforming Teaching and Learning for Every Student, Every Day. Dr. Hill is a Senior Consultant with Focused Schools. His expert facilitation and coaching skills empower school and district leaders to inspire, motivate, and create a supportive environment for children, adolescents, and their families to attain academic success in a rigorous and safe learning environment. Tony served as a school social worker, school adjustment counselor, assistant principal, and principal in Springfield, MA, with a focus on reaching and teaching all students by leading for results using both influence and authority. Tony also serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Springfield College in Springfield, MA. Tony has traveled the country and is highly sought after to serve as a keynote speaker on topics including the multigenerational workforce, diversity and inclusion, trauma sensitive education, and social advocacy. Ms. Purcell is a Senior Executive and Partner with Focused Schools and an expert leader, developer of curriculum, facilitator of professional development, executive coach, and technical assistance provider to school and district leaders across the country. Kerry has provided support to hundreds of school leadership teams, district office leaders, and instructional coaches as they work to develop strong systems and structures that get results. Prior to leading Focused Schools, Kerry served for eight years as a Senior Consultant with the company. Before coming to Focused Schools, Kerry was a teacher and principal for Springfield Public Schools in Illinois. As the principal of Harvard Park School, the school was removed from the state watch list due to rapid gains in student achievement. Harvard Park was also one of two schools selected to be featured in the PBS full-length documentary, The Principal Story. Funded by the Wallace Foundation, this documentary explores the complex role of the principal and the impact that this role plays in the quest for lasting improvement. Kerry has been asked to keynote national conferences, including the ASCD conference; served as an adjunct professor for Concordia University; and has co-authored the book, Focused Schools: Transforming Teaching and Learning for Every Student, Every Day.
ffective teaching and learning for all students
E
students. And those teachers need administrators
in our schools will determine the future of this
who are leaders of literacy. Douglas Reeves states,
country. Schools need teachers who are equipped
“literacy is the top priority of equity and excellence
to effectively teach literacy and who genuinely care
in schools” (Reeves, 2020, p. 41). It is vital to have
about academic success while simultaneously
strategies developed around literacy, including
nurturing the social and emotional well-being of all
phonemic
awareness,
phonics,
fluency, 55
