AASA, Transcend Launch Roads to Reinvention Action Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org

Network will serve as a catalyst to sustain the growing innovations in America’s school districts
 
Alexandria, Va. – October 20, 2021 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, in partnership with Transcend, has launched the Roads to Reinvention Network, a pathway aimed to create solid conditions necessary for sustainable, equitable innovations in school districts nationwide.

This action network will help districts succeed by enriching ‘the soil’ that successful innovations need to flourish. That soil is strengthened through intentional, effective change management, which is too often neglected when designing and implementing programs and initiatives.

“Superintendents are concerned that the teacher and learning initiatives created as a result of funds received through the American Rescue Plan won’t generate the desirable impacts in their communities,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “Returning to the past is not an option if our school systems are going to succeed. The network will enable school district-based innovations to flourish. We are proud to partner with Transcend on this initiative.”

“AASA and Transcend share the belief that, unless we are intentional about reinventing teaching and learning, the pandemic we must continue to navigate through will only exacerbate the patterns of inequality that we have seen thwart student progress,” said Jeff Wetzler, co-founder of Transcend. “In the schools and systems we work with, we have seen how nurturing the ‘Conditions for Innovation’ can radically accelerate a school system’s ability to grow extraordinary, equitable learning environments.”

The AASA + Transcend Roads to Reinvention Action Network will bring together 15 thoughtful, intentional school districts from across the nation (superintendent plus two key members of his or her team) to create strong conditions for sustainable, equitable innovation by: 

• Focusing on one key initiative the district is already working on that impacts student learning experiences;
• Exploring how to strengthen that initiative via Leaps for 21st Century Learning;
• Assessing the Conditions for Innovation around that initiative; and
• Strengthening the highest leverage condition so that the initiative can take root and flourish.

For more information about participating in the first AASA + Transcend Roads to Reinvention cohort, visit the AASA website, or contact Bryan Joffe at bjoffe@aasa.org. The application deadline is December 2, 2021.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.

About Transcend
Transcend is a national non-profit that supports communities to create and spread extraordinary, equitable learning environments. They have partnered with more than 200 schools and 50 systems across the country, including the Texas Education Agency, Lindsay Unified School District (CA), and many others. For more information, visit www.transcendeducation.org