Nothing But Education October 2024 Newsletter
The Vision from our CEO:
As a Woman-owned organization, our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative educational solutions that empower learners of all ages to reach their full potential and succeed in a rapidly evolving world.
Dear Educational Community,
We're thrilled to have you on board with our newsletter and excited to share not only our vision but also learn more about what’s most beneficial to you in this current era of education.
Our newsletter is more than a collection of articles—it’s a platform designed to foster a vibrant community of like-minded individuals passionate about leadership in education and industry. Our mission is to offer valuable insights, resources, and updates that will enhance your journey and spark curiosity about the latest trends and developments.
We invite you to be an active participant in this community. Feel free to share what’s happening in your world—whether it’s an innovative idea, a new project, or an exciting development. Write an article for our newsletter, or invite us to highlight your creative implementations. We want to help you build a platform where you can share your experiences with fellow aspiring leaders.
I personally encourage you to reach out, share your feedback, and engage with us as we shape this journey together. You can expect a range of content and interactive opportunities through our newsletter, from thought-provoking articles to virtual meetups and webinars. Your input will play a key role in determining the topics we explore, so don’t hesitate to let us know what interests you most.
We look forward to growing together, learning from one another, and building lasting connections within this community.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for being part of our community—we’re excited for what’s ahead!
Jennifer Taylor Boykins
CEO, Nothing But Education
Denver PS Launches Black Student Success Team: A
Collaborative Journey Toward True Equity in Education
Denver Public Schools (DPS) has launched the Black Student Success team, a new initiative aimed at improving academic outcomes for Black students by identifying and scaling effective teaching strategies across the district. This initiative builds upon the 2019 Black Excellence Resolution, which mandated every school to create plans for enhancing Black student achievement.
Led by Michael Atkins, former principal of Stedman Elementary and a DPS alum who personally experienced racial inequities as a student, the team focuses on highlighting successful strategies in schools where Black students are making significant academic gains. The district aims to use these findings to inform instructional practices and ensure Black students receive the support and opportunities needed to thrive academically.
At the district's kickoff event, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad delivered a powerful keynote speech, emphasizing the critical need for transformative education that affirms and uplifts Black students. The initiative is backed by research from the University of Denver, where experts studied classrooms with strong academic progress among Black students to identify the specific practices driving that success. Atkins and his team are working closely with a cohort of six DPS schools, focusing on innovative approaches to make learning more engaging and culturally relevant for Black students. DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero has noted the urgency of these efforts, pointing to data that highlights persistent achievement gaps between Black and white students, and reinforcing the district’s commitment to improving instructional systems to accelerate Black student success. Nothing But Education is excited to partner with DPS on this journey, supporting the efforts to drive lasting, meaningful change and help make true equity in education a reality.
How Nothing But Education Can Support You
Strategic Planning: NBE collaborates with educational leaders to develop strategic plans tailored to their specific goals and objectives. These plans include initiatives to improve student outcomes, enhance educational experiences, and address systemic challenges.
Thoughtful Purchasing: NBE works alongside schools districts to ensure they receive the greatest value in their purchasing decisions. This involves evaluating the effectiveness, relevance, and appropriateness of various options available in the market.
Collaborative Partnerships: NBE serves as a strategic thought partner, working closely with educational leaders and organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration and innovation. By fostering partnerships and sharing best practices, NBE helps drive positive change and improvement within the education sector.
Transformational Initiatives: NBE assists educational organizations in implementing sustainable transformation initiatives designed to improve student learning outcomes, enhance teaching practices, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. This involves innovative professional development, coaching, and support to educators and administrators.
Equity and Inclusion: NBE prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its approach to supporting educational organizations. This includes offering resources, training, and guidance on creating inclusive learning environments that honor the diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all students and educators.
Leadership Training: NBE supports the leadership pipeline within school districts by providing specific leadership training for assistant principals desiring to become principals. The coaches include sitting district leaders and superintendents with a proven track record of making a positive impact on organizational leadership and student achievement.
Staff Profile Highlight
Rick Williams-White, Sr. administrator
As Sr. Administrator of NBE, Rick’s passion for helping others has remained constant throughout his career. With execution & delivery at the forefront, he is the "glue" to our NBE team. Rick joined Nothing But Education in July of 2020. With a background in Education & Sociology, Rick has worked with school districts, non-profits organizations & fortune 500 companies providing efficient support in the growth & success of the company.
With his passion for education, a passion for helping others and his drive for achievement, he continues to support Nothing But Education reach our company goals.
We wish him the best as he embarks on marriage this month. Congratulations Rick.
AI in the Classroom
The End of Knowing - Jason Green
In a world where information is readily accessible at the push of a button, the traditional focus on memorization and content delivery in schools is increasingly outdated. As technology, AI, and automation reshape industries and everyday life, education must evolve to emphasize skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability over simply "knowing things." This article argues that the future of education lies in fostering "generative" learners—individuals who can continuously grow, innovate, and navigate an ever-changing world.
Click here to read more...
Equity is Literacy: Literacy Initiatives in Kalamazoo Public Schools
Approximately 12,300 students are enrolled in Kalamazoo Public Schools. The make-up of the student body includes 37% African American, 35% White, 14% two or more races, 11% Hispanic/Latino, and 1% Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Additionally, approximately 50 languages are spoken by students and their families. Since we value students’ unique lived experiences, we are intentional with providing resources that represent our students.
In 2018, KPS launched an effort to diversify classroom libraries. This initiative served two purposes:
Providing students access to literature within their classroom with images and narratives that reflect them
Remove the barrier of costs for teachers to have current literature
Approximately 275 kindergarten-grade 5 classrooms received 50-80 titles while 110 ELA classrooms in grades 6-8 received 25-40 titles.
In the fall of 2024, kindergarten-grade 5 classrooms received an additional 50-80 titles while ELA classrooms in grades 6- 8 received an additional 15-20 titles. To ensure students would not have to wait a long time for a book, we were intentional in providing 3-5 copies of each title. While some titles were shared between grade levels, 80-90% of the titles are different for each grade level.
Kalamazoo Public Schools continues to make strides in promoting diversity and inclusivity within its classrooms. By expanding classroom libraries with representative literature and providing educators with the necessary resources and training, KPS ensures that students see themselves reflected in their learning materials. This ongoing commitment to providing these books fosters a more inclusive, engaging, and enriching educational experience for all students while equipping teachers with the tools to facilitate meaningful discussions around literature and lived experiences in their classrooms.
-Dr. Angela Justice, CAO, Kalamazoo Public Schools