Relay Graduate School of Education

📍 Headed to New Orleans for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference?

Relay is excited to join educators, school leaders, and charter network teams from across the country at the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference, taking place June 24–26 in New Orleans. The conference brings together leaders to share ideas, build connections, and explore what's next for teaching and learning.

If you're attending, stop by our table (Booth #960), connect with our fantastic team, and learn how Relay partners with schools, districts, and charter networks to strengthen teacher preparation, develop instructional leaders, and support educator growth at every stage of the career continuum.

Whether you're thinking about teacher pipelines, leadership development, instructional coaching, or system-wide educator support, we'd love to connect.

Research on how students learn should not live on the sidelines of educator preparation.

The latest edition of The Science of Learning from Deans for Impact (DFI) offers a powerful reminder that learning science isn't just academic knowledge—it's practical knowledge that can help educators make stronger instructional decisions every day.

Many of these ideas surfaced recently in a conversation with Relay President and CEO Dr. Sarah J. Johnson about preparing educators for today's classrooms. The challenge isn't simply helping educators understand the research. It's creating opportunities to apply that knowledge through practice, feedback, reflection, and continuous improvement.

That's a core belief at Relay. Effective educator preparation sits at the intersection of research and practice, helping teachers and leaders connect what we know about learning with what students experience every day in classrooms.

We're grateful to Deans for Impact for continuing to advance this important conversation and encourage educators, preparation providers, and system leaders to explore the report.

Read more below: https://www.deansforimpact.org/tools-and-resources/the-science-of-learning

The Science of Learning | Deans for Impact (DFI) Cognitive science research on student learning, applied to teaching practices.

Last week, we shared insights from the REACH report (https://www.itsallsystemsgo.org/reach), which highlights a critical lesson for districts: curriculum alone does not drive student outcomes. Sustained improvement happens when strong instructional materials are paired with the systems, leadership, and educator development needed to bring them to life.

So what does that look like in practice?

At Henderson Collegiate, one of North Carolina's top-performing schools, instructional excellence is supported by a deliberate investment in educator development. Leaders across the organization—including school and network leaders—are alumni of Relay's Leverage Leadership Institute, creating a shared approach to coaching, leadership, and continuous improvement.

The result is more than strong performance. It's a system where leaders and teachers are equipped to use evidence of student learning, strengthen instructional practice, and sustain excellence over time.

The REACH report asks what it takes to build and maintain instructional consistency. Henderson Collegiate offers one example of what that work can look like in action.

Read more about the partnership and lessons learned: https://www.relay.edu/leaders/re-focused-on-learning-leading-a-shift-in-teacher-coaching-to-deepen-student-understanding

(Re)Focused on Learning: Leading a Shift in Teacher Coaching to Deepen Student Understanding | Relay.edu his profile is part of the Follow the Leaders project, an ongoing series from Relay Graduate School of Education and funded by the Barr Foundation to share insights and inspiration on leading for equity, wellness, and achievement.

Graduation season is here, and for many educators, this time of year is a powerful reminder of why the work matters.

Every lesson, encouraging conversation, extra hour of support, and moment spent helping students believe in themselves adds up over time. By the time students walk across that graduation stage, they carry pieces of every educator who helped guide them there.

Teachers may not always see the full impact they have in the moment, but graduation season offers a glimpse into just how meaningful that influence can be.

To all the educators celebrating students this month: thank you for the care, patience, leadership, and encouragement you bring into your classrooms every day. Your work changes lives in ways that last far beyond graduation. 🎓

🎓 Save the Date 🎓

On June 27, we'll come together to celebrate the achievements, growth, and impact of Relay's graduating class.

This year's commencement will honor educators who have dedicated themselves to strengthening their practice, serving their communities, and creating brighter futures for students.

We can't wait to celebrate this incredible milestone with our graduates, their families, colleagues, and supporters.

More details coming soon. For now, mark your calendars for June 27.

🎉 Please join us in welcoming the 2026–27 Leverage Leadership Institute Fellows!

This year's cohort brings together exceptional school and system leaders from across the country who share a common commitment: building the conditions for excellent teaching and stronger outcomes for students.

Over the coming year, these leaders will engage in rigorous learning, collaborative problem-solving, and practice-based leadership development designed to strengthen their ability to coach educators, develop teams, and drive instructional excellence at scale.

What makes the Leverage Leadership Institute so special isn't just the learning—it's the community. Fellows join a national network of leaders who challenge one another, share openly, and remain connected long after the program ends.

To our newest fellows: we're thrilled to welcome you to this incredible cohort and can't wait to see what you'll accomplish together.

And to our Leverage Leadership Institute alumni: help us welcome the newest members of the community! Share your advice, favorite memories, or words of encouragement in the comments below. 👇

You asked, we listened! 📣 Deadline extended!

The response to this year’s National Principal Academy Fellowship and National Principal Supervisors Academy has been incredible! Because so many school and system leaders are working hard to finalize their leadership teams for next year, we are extending the application deadline through Friday, June 5.

This is your opportunity to join a network of ambitious leaders who are learning, problem solving, and growing together to drive real student and teacher outcomes.

Don't miss your chance to apply — or nominate a member of your leadership team, today!

https://apply.relay.edu/register/?id=5aecc5cd-d43e-467c-ace2-1abd1e07c347

School and district leaders: the deadline to register for Relay’s summer leadership programs is tomorrow, Friday, May 29.

Whether you’re developing instructional leadership skills, supporting principals, or strengthening student-centered systems, Relay offers programs designed to help leaders grow through practical, real-world learning and coaching.

Our Instructional Leadership Academies programs include:

☑️ Instructional Leadership Professional Development (ILPD)
Designed for school-based instructional leaders focused on coaching teachers and strengthening classroom instruction.

☑️ National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF)
Supports principals in building strong instructional leadership practices that drive student achievement and school culture.

☑️ National Principal Supervisors Academy (NPSA)
Created for district leaders who coach and develop principals across schools and systems.

☑️ Student-Centered Leadership Intensive (SCLI)
Helps leaders build equitable, student-centered practices that support meaningful learning experiences for all students.

All programs are grounded in practice, reflection, collaboration, and actionable leadership strategies educators can immediately apply in their schools and districts.

Registration closes May 29. Don’t miss your opportunity to invest in your leadership growth this summer.

Learn more and sign up through the link in the comments.

A new report from Columbia University's Center for Public Research and Leadership highlights something many districts are experiencing firsthand: adopting high-quality curriculum is only part of the work.

The districts seeing stronger outcomes are pairing curriculum with aligned teacher development, instructional leadership, and systems that support consistent instruction across classrooms.

That connection is reflected clearly in the REACH framework’s “Equip” pillar — providing educators with the training, data, and support needed to meet student needs.

At Relay, that’s the work we partner with schools and districts to do every day through teacher preparation, instructional coaching, and leadership development.

The report also underscores an important reality: instructional consistency is often a systems challenge, not an individual one — and students facing the greatest barriers are impacted most when those systems fall short.

As Relay and Teaching Lab join forces, we’re encouraged to see continued research affirm what educators have long known: great teaching doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built through intentional support, strong systems, and sustained investment in educators over time.

Explore the report: https://www.itsallsystemsgo.org/reach

REACH Higher, Together — Report — All Systems Go How trajectory-changing school districts used curriculum as a launchpad to improve outcomes.