Summit Public Schools

I am overjoyed to announce this year's 2026 Oster Scholars! One of the most rewarding parts of this journey is getting to witness our students step into their own power... not just as scholars, but as individuals ready to leave their mark on the world. What makes this particular cohort so special is the sheer range of their next steps. Each of these students is following a unique path—from specialized radiology programs at community colleges to a wide array of majors at four-year universities —and it’s a beautiful reminder that our students are never just one thing. They are asking better questions and carving out futures that are entirely their own. I am so grateful to the Oster family for their relentless belief in these young people. Their support provides more than just a scholarship; it provides the foundation for these bold next chapters. ✨ 🫶

Proud to be doing this work alongside Stephanie Lassalle. Co-planning between general and special education teachers is one of the highest-leverage instructional practices we see in schools, and one of the hardest to sustain. If you lead a school or system and want a structured way to build it, this collective is worth your time. Applications open now. Join us!

Our young people are truly the vision!!!! Every moment I’ve spent with the students of Summit Public Schools this year has reminded me exactly why I stay committed to this work. As we wrap up the 2025–2026 school year, I’m reflecting on one of the ways I stay connected- my monthly sessions with the student CEO Advisory Board. The picture attached are just some of the incredible faces (it is AP exam week so some of them were showcasing what they know in testing 📖 ) From our seniors preparing for their next chapters to our rising 10th–12th graders stepping into new leadership roles, their impact has been felt across the entire organization. They didn’t just have a seat at the table... they shaped the conversation. They helped refine curriculum innovations, piloted shadowing initiatives, and inspired audiences as featured public speakers. Their insight, courage, and authenticity continue to push us to become a stronger community for every student we serve. To our graduates: the world is better because you are entering it with purpose and passion. To our returning members: I’m so proud of what we’ve built together, and I cannot wait to see your leadership continue to grow. Thank you for a year filled with collaboration, wisdom, honesty, and heart. The future is bright because of you. ✨

What does it take to prepare a young person for a fulfilled life? That's the question a small team of us has been sitting with for the last two days at Summit's Home Office. Educators, designers, students, and partners gathered around whiteboards, sketching what a more powerful 11th grade experience could look like. The honest answer is that it takes more than what most high schools currently offer. It takes student agency that's real and not performed, mentoring that's consistent and powerful, and learning experiences connected to who a student is becoming. What's stayed with me from these two days is how much of the best thinking came from the students and educators in the room. They named things our planning team hadn't seen. They pushed us on the parts of the design that sounded good on paper but wouldn't actually hold up in a real school day. Building this way isn't an extra step or a nice gesture, it's how the work gets stronger, and it's how Summit has always done things. You can't design for student agency from the outside. You can only design it alongside the people who will live it and bring it to life in schools every day. The whiteboards are full, the questions are real, and the work is only just beginning. I'm proud of this team and grateful for the students and educators who showed up to build with us. More to come.

One of the greatest privileges of this work is getting to witness educators reimagine what school can be... not from theory, but from deep commitment to students and each other. I’m incredibly proud of the Summit Public Schools' educators featured in this piece from Getting Smart about challenging the “rules” of how teachers work together. The article highlights something we’ve long believed: many of the structures we take for granted in education were designed for a different era, and our educators are courageous enough to ask better questions. This article, written by the incredible Courtney Ochi (who is also from Hawaii 🌺!!) captures the spirit of innovation beautifully. I’m grateful to ALL of the educators featured, who continue to lead with humility, creativity, and relentless belief in young people. https://lnkd.in/gqPBnCdc

I had so much fun with Kimberly Smith, Mario Andrade, Michelle Miller, and Sara Schapiro last week on my first LinkedIn Live- hosted by Digital Promise and the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI). I had the opportunity to share my perspective about continuously innovating and improving schools, and I always learn so much from the incredible community of schools who do this work!

Come work with me! We're excited to expand our work at Summit Public Schools to support early career teachers through induction. We're hiring for up to two full time Induction Mentors - check out our posting and please share! https://lnkd.in/gSvdwxu5

Today (and every day!) we celebrate our Executive Directors in honor of principal appreciation day. At Summit Public Schools, our EDs don’t just keep schools running. They shape the conditions that allow great teaching to happen and big dreams to take root. In a world that’s constantly pulling schools in a hundred different directions, they create clarity. They make it possible for students not just to succeed, but to believe in what’s possible for their lives. Grateful today (and every day) for the leaders who carry this work with such commitment and care.