At Partners in School Innovation, the Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry (ROCI), a framework for school improvement that helps educators stay grounded in evidence, build stronger habits, and make continuous progress that lasts, is one of the most powerful tools we use—and coach others to use—to lead meaningful change. Learn more about what ROCI is.

As a new school year unfolds, school leaders face significant curriculum changes. The Lippitt-Knoster Model for Managing Complex Change offers a structured approach to managing these transitions, helping leaders assess staff needs, provide targeted support, and build momentum for lasting growth.

When faced with implementing a new English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, one middle school turned toward authentic inquiry to preserve teacher voice and purpose. By aligning new materials with shared values and practices, educators reclaimed ownership and deepened commitment to equitable instruction.

Starting the school year with strong team collaboration supports equity and shared goals. Lessons from our Community course “From Root Causes to Grassroots Action” offer practical strategies to engage staff, center student perspectives, and align teams for meaningful impact.

Understand how to set multilingual learners (MLLs) up for success in classroom discussions, complex texts, and communicating learning effectively through structured language practice. Learn strategies like Language Dives to build fluency in academic language. This is the fourth in an explainer series about supporting and differentiating instruction for MLLs.

In this episode of Transformative Principal, Derek Mitchell explores how schools can recover and innovate post-pandemic. From addressing truancy to supporting teachers, his insights show how leaders can transform schools into equitable, community-centered spaces.

Educators must go beyond content instruction to ensure that multilingual learners (MLLs) and English Language Learners (ELLs) develop the academic language skills they need to engage deeply in lessons. Discover how to create language objectives that help them express their ideas and demonstrate what they know. This is the third in an explainer series about supporting and differentiating instruction for MLLs.

Explore in detail how to implement student shadowing and empathy interviews to best support multilingual learners (MLLs) and English Language Learners (ELLs) and highlight student voice. Learn practical tools to understand students’ lived experiences and classroom sentiments, so that you can start taking targeted steps toward change. This is the second in an explainer series about supporting and differentiating instruction for MLLs.

On the Implement Change in Education podcast, CEO of Partners in School Innovation Derek Mitchell highlights how coaching, reflection, and intentional leadership empower educators to drive lasting, student-centered change. Discover practical strategies for supporting teachers and leaders in creating more equitable schools.

In a recent mini-episode of the High Tech High Unboxed podcast, Partners in School Innovation CEO Derek Mitchell returned to talk with host Alec Patton about his daily reading practice: a routine that supports his leadership, fuels his imagination, and helps him stay rooted in reflection.

As an educator focused on understanding and supporting multilingual learners (MLLs) and English Language Learners (ELLs), learn actionable strategies you can use, or share with peers, to differentiate instruction and help bridge the gap between intention and impact. This is the first in an explainer series about supporting and differentiating instruction for MLLs.

Community schools are a powerful, long-term strategy for rethinking how schools support students, families, and communities. This article breaks down the model, clears up common misconceptions, and offers practical guidance for implementation.

Leading transformation in schools takes a different kind of leader. Learn how our Change Agent Framework supports educators in leading with purpose and advancing equity in lasting, practical ways.

School transformation begins with culture. In this podcast episode, Derek Mitchell shares how equity, listening, and shared leadership form the foundation of sustainable improvement and expands on what education leaders can do to make it real in their schools.

In a conversation on the Toddle School Leaders Project podcast, Dr. Derek Mitchell explores how school leaders can turn challenges into opportunities through a mindset of abundance. He elaborates on how the Skill-Will-Way framework helps educators empower students, strengthen teachers, and create thriving learning communities.

Effective school leadership is the foundation of meaningful educational change, especially in underserved communities. In a recent episode of Principal Matters: The School Leaders Podcast, our very own Dr. Derek Mitchell, shared his insights on how equity-centered strategies can drive lasting improvements in education. Drawing from his diverse career—spanning education, technology, and even professional dance—Dr. Mitchell discussed the power of shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, recognizing the brilliance within communities, and using the 'Skill, Will, and Way' framework to tackle challenges.

Learn how a Theory of Action (ToA) can support educators with connecting goals to outcomes and read about real examples from Partners in School Innovation Director of Program Design and Development Amanda Bachelor on how schools and districts we’ve worked with have used ToAs.

In "Sometimes The Bias You Need to Disrupt is Your Own" in Unboxed’s Issue 27: Fall 2024, Partners in School Innovation coach Paula Espinoza describes how undertaking antiracist and anti-bias work with schools resulted in site leaders learning strategies that challenged prior beliefs. She shares insights from the journey in this article.

Discover how disaggregated data empowers educators to uncover hidden inequities and make targeted, impactful decisions, including a real-world example.

Delve into the critical role of Change Agents in modern schools and districts to forward goals of equity in education. Read more to understand the Partners In School Innovation framework for driving impactful change in schools and districts.