Rethinking Leadership, Reimagining Equity: CICS Joins Transformative Leadership Adult Learning Network to Support All Scholars
This May, CICS was selected to join the Transformative Leadership Adult Learning Network, a three-year national initiative led by TNTP and supported by the Oak Foundation.
This opportunity brings together school systems from across the country to help leaders strengthen their support for students with learning and thinking differences. It places a particular focus on scholars with IEPs, multilingual learners, and those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Through regular coaching, collaboration, and training, our leadership team will work to remove the barriers that too often stand in the way of student success.
A National Program with Local Impact
The Transformative Leadership Adult Learning Network officially launched in May 2025 and will run through 2028. Over these three years, participating school systems will meet virtually, receive coaching, and share progress as they design strategies to better serve all students. Each team will create a Transformative Leadership Playbook and share their results in a final capstone presentation.
At CICS, this work builds on conversations we’ve had with special education and multilingual leaders. Their message was clear: we need to better connect big-picture decisions with the real needs of students and families.
“CICS has always demonstrated a clear dedication to improving outcomes for all of their students,” says Abby Robinson, Senior Manager at TNTP. “In past work with TNTP, CICS has engaged in learning walks, focus groups, investigating student assignments and a working group focused specifically on students with disabilities. We’ve always found that CICS leaders and educators are continually seeking to improve opportunities for all students, and we are excited for the network to join us in this next learning opportunity!”
Who’s Involved
The Network brings together a strong group of education leaders committed to advancing equity for diverse learners. Collectively, 8 leaders from across CICS and our school management organizations will participate in this prestigious program: Beth Purvis and Allison Sussna of CICS; Mary Beck, Katie O'Connor, and Mike McCarthy of Distinctive Schools; and Joanne Tanner, Kelly Smith, and Maria Bastos of Meridian Charter Schools. Together, these leaders form a collaborative team with both local roots and national impact.
What We Hope to Achieve
CICS is guided by a simple belief: when leaders understand students’ lived experiences and use that insight to make smarter decisions, every student benefits. Our team will spend the first year identifying barriers and setting goals, and by year three, we’ll be rolling out new strategies across our schools.
“We listened to our SMO leaders, shared their feedback with SMO senior leadership, and are now stepping into this shared learning opportunity focused specifically on improving senior-level decision-making and removing systemic barriers,” said Allison Sussna, Chief Portfolio Officer of CICS.
A Look Ahead
By 2028, we aim to have more than just new plans; we want to build a new mindset. This mindset will include embedding equity into everyday decisions and creating the conditions for all scholars to thrive. Through this network, we’re building the habits, systems, and shared understanding needed to create lasting change. Our hope is that every scholar, no matter their background or learning profile, feels valued, supported, and fully empowered to reach their potential.
