Delaware Academy for School Leadership

Equity and breakthrough leadership are on the agenda of the Policy and Practice Institute: Delaware’s Conference on Public Education, along with the state’s premiere of award-winning documentary “Petersburg Rising.”

Registration is open for the June 28 gathering in Dover. The event has four hosts:

• University of Delaware College of Education & Human Development — Delaware Academy for School Leadership
• University of Delaware Partnership for Public Education
• Delaware Department of Education
• Delaware Association of School Administrators

Gathering in person for the first time since COVID-19, more than 400+ educational leaders will hear from Alan Blankstein and Dr. Marcus Newsome, authors of “Breakthrough Leadership: Six Principles Guiding Schools Where Inequity Is Not an Option.” Together, the presentation and documentary demonstrate how bold investment, innovative leadership and connected efforts can bring about systemic educational change. As Dr. Pedro Noguera of the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools wrote in the book’s forward: “The critical variable that determines whether or not our schools can respond adequately to the numerous challenges that they and their children face is leadership. …  This book is about the work of such leaders. In big cities, small towns, and rural areas, a small number of principals and superintendents are showing that progress can be made when leaders have the resourcefulness and courage to address equity challenges directly.”   “Petersburg Rising” chronicles change created when educators led by Dr. Marcus Newsome and committed leaders at all levels changed the status quo for students in the boom-to-bust city of Petersburg, Virginia. “Petersburg Rising” affirms that there are no throwaway kids, only children who will no longer be thrown away. The film, now available to educators and education leaders across the United States, provides a roadmap to success and recovery.

“Petersburg Rising” was produced by Alan Blankstein in association with Emmy® award winner and Academy Award® nominee Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama) and Alice Elliott, executive consultant and Academy Award® winning writer, director, producer (The Collector of Bedford Street). “Petersburg Rising” is now available for educational licensing through Video Project.