Special Education Leader Fellowship

There is still time to make a difference on GiveNOLA Day.

Students thrive when educators are supported, and leaders are equipped to build strong, inclusive schools.

In one SELF Leader Fellowship school, students with disabilities moved from just 14% on track to 89% on track in a single year. Across SELF programs, that impact is reflected not only in schoolwide outcomes but also in individual student growth.

One ninth-grade student entered the year reading below grade level and struggling with communication, but finished with a 3.5 GPA, strong fluency growth, and increased confidence through targeted support from a teacher participating in SELF’s program.

That kind of change happens when educators have the tools, coaching, and support to create systems where every student can succeed.

SELF partners with the entire school talent pipeline across New Orleans to strengthen classrooms and build schools where all students can learn and thrive.

Your gift today helps fuel this work and expand what is possible for students and schools across our city.

Give today: https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

Students thrive when educators are supported and ready to lead.

Educators thrive with strong school leaders and systems, and you can help strengthen both by giving on GiveNOLA Day.

SELF partners with educators and leaders across New Orleans schools to build strong, inclusive classrooms and support students every day.

When you give today, you are investing in the people and systems that make learning possible.

Together, we can build the classrooms that every student deserves.

Every gift impacts students.

Give now, and be part of the movement happening across New Orleans. ( link below, in bio, & stories) 💙

https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

Today is GiveNOLA Day, and we invite you to join a community committed to strong, inclusive learning for all students across New Orleans.

Rooted in New Orleans, SELF has partnered with educators and school leaders in this city for over 10 years to build classrooms where every student can learn and thrive.

Just last year, SELF partnered with 37 New Orleans educators, supporting over 7,000 students.

When you give today, you help fuel this impact and strengthen classrooms across our community.
Support Students. Support New Orleans. Support SELF.

Give now and be part of the impact.

https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

( Link is also in bio & in stories)

SELF has supported over 70% of schools in New Orleans, and we want you to be a part of that impact!

Today is GiveNOLA Day, and we invite you to join a community committed to strong, inclusive learning for all students across New Orleans.

For over 10 years, SELF has partnered with educators and school leaders in this city to bring this vision to life.

When you give today, you help amplify our impact and strengthen classrooms across our community.
Give now, and be part of our story.
🔗 in bio!
https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

Tomorrow is the big day.

GiveNOLA Day is *almost* here, and we are excited to invite our community to show up alongside us.

For over 10 years, SELF has partnered with educators and school leaders to build strong, inclusive schools where students with disabilities can learn and thrive.

Tomorrow, you can help us expand this impact across New Orleans.

Here are a few ways you can support SELF!

💫Give here to impact students https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

💫Share SELF with someone who believes in this work

💫Share our posts on social media

💫Engage with our page to help our reach grow

Together, we can support what is possible for students and teachers across our city.

Join us tomorrow for GiveNOLA Day. 💙

4 days until GiveNOLA Day.

Nearly half of the new teachers in New Orleans leave their roles within two years.

SELF is helping change that trajectory.

91% of SELF’s first-year teachers stayed in the classroom last year.

This is how we build stronger schools and better outcomes for students.

Ready to support teachers and strengthen classrooms?

Give NOW to GiveNOLA!
Click the link below to join the movement! https://www.givenola.org/organization/SELF-gnola

New Orleans, are you ready?

GiveNOLA Day is back on Tuesday, May 5.

SELF started right here in New Orleans over 10 years ago, rooted in supporting students with disabilities and helping leaders ignite meaningful change in schools.

Just last year, we partnered with educators to support over 4,500 students across the New Orleans community.

Early giving has officially begun, and we are excited to continue that impact.

Join us in building stronger, more inclusive classrooms for all students by:

Giving early: https://www.givenola.org/organization/

SELF-gnolaSharing our page with your network!

What do YOU think? 💡

In many schools, special education leaders carry one of the most complex leadership roles in the building.

They are responsible for:
•Supporting students with disabilities
•Collaborating with families and caregivers
•Guiding IEP implementation
•Navigating legal requirements
•Aligning academic and behavioral supports
•Coordinating across general and special education teams

And these are just what’s visible; there are so many more unspoken responsibilities that these leaders do.

Research from WestEd has described special education leadership as a difficult and often isolating role, where leaders frequently solve complex challenges without regular contact with peers who understand the work. https://bit.ly/4ukuOxE

For emerging leaders stepping into these roles, that isolation can be overwhelming. Many are exceptional educators who suddenly find themselves responsible for systems that span instruction, compliance, staffing, and family engagement.

Without intentional support, leaders are often left to navigate these challenges on their own. The right support equips leaders to navigate complexity with confidence.

Emerging leaders need space to:
•Collaborate with peers facing similar challenges
•Work through real problems of practice
•Develop action plans tied to student outcomes
•Build capacity to make complex leadership decisions with support and reflection.

At SELF, our Emerging Leaders program creates a community for early special education leaders to collaborate, reflect, and develop action plans grounded in the unique and real challenges they are navigating in their school.

Learn more about the program in the link in our bio. Sign up by March 13!

✨ For those working in special education leadership: What support helped you most during your early leadership years?

Comment below!

Struggling to retain your SPED leaders?

Too often, leaders step into new roles without the clarity, support, or space to fully orient themselves.

Over time, this strain shows up as burnout, stalled growth, or leaders quietly stepping away from work they once cared deeply about.

Retention is rarely about a single decision.

It is shaped early as leaders learn to navigate expectations, responsibilities, and competing demands.

That is why investing in emerging special education leaders this spring matters.

👉 Learn more through the link or set up a quick call with [email protected] to discuss next steps.

Know a rising SPED leader ready to step into their role?

Supporting leaders as they step into greater responsibility shapes how effectively they lead. When leaders are grounded in their role, priorities, and purpose, systems grow stronger.

SELF’s Stepping Into the Role: A Guided Pathway for Emerging Special Education Leaders program is designed for educators stepping into special education leadership who want clarity, confidence, and a grounded sense of how to lead well in a complex system.

This focused, hybrid experience includes:
Four short asynchronous learning modules
Three live sessions focused on reflection, connection, and practice
Practical tools and templates grounded in real school leadership

If you know a rising special education leader navigating this transition, this spring cohort was built for them.

👉 Click the link in bio to learn more.