Relay Graduate School of Education

06/03/2026

🎉 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. 👇

06/02/2026

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

05/28/2026

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.

05/28/2026

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

How trajectory-changing school districts used curriculum as a launchpad to improve outcomes.

05/21/2026

For Teacher Appreciation Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of Relay’s alumni and celebrate the journey that brought her to the classroom.

When Ms. Jagadish moved to the United States, becoming a classroom teacher still felt like a dream she hoped to reach one day.

She started as a para, became a substitute teacher, joined the Denver Math Fellows program, and eventually enrolled at Relay where she combined practice, coaching, and classroom experience to grow into the educator she wanted to become.

Now, she’s preparing to become a full-time 8th grade math teacher.

What stands out most in her story is the joy she finds in helping students build confidence in themselves. As she shared, some students began the year believing they “weren’t good at math.” By the end, they were volunteering at the board, taking risks, and believing they could succeed.

Thank you, Ms. Jagadish, for your dedication to students, your persistence, and the care you bring to your classroom community every day.

Learn more about Ms. Jagadish. Link in the comments.

05/19/2026

What happens when a school leader truly learns alongside teachers?

At PS 268 in Brooklyn, Principal Rick Romain didn’t just introduce a new reading curriculum. He immersed himself in it. From reading every text students would encounter to restructuring schedules around instructional support, he helped create a culture where teachers felt equipped to tackle rigorous learning together.

The result wasn’t just stronger implementation. It was a shift in how students engaged with reading, discussion, and academic confidence.

Read the full article to see how collaboration, coaching, and curriculum-aligned support helped spark transformation across the school. Link is in the comments.

05/19/2026

Connecting with educators face-to-face is one of the best parts of the work we do 💙

Over the past few weeks, Dana Davisson, Clinical Practice Director of Relay Delaware, has had the opportunity to connect with aspiring educators, current students, district leaders, and education partners at several local events, including Christina School District’s Annual Job Fair, Caesar Rodney School District Rider Pride Day, and the Delaware Teacher Pathways Showcase.

From discussing flexible pathways into teaching to sharing resources that support certification and MAT programs, these conversations help us better understand how Relay can support educators at every stage of their journey.

We’re also excited to share that applications are open for our summer and fall programs! If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming an educator, we’d love to connect.

Learn more at: https://www.relay.edu/admissions-enrollment

05/14/2026

There was something powerful happening in the room at The Menta Education Group’s 2026 Symposium in St. Charles, Illinois. 💙

More than 800 educators, leaders, and school staff gathered together with one shared goal: creating better outcomes for students through stronger support for educators.

For over 50 years, The Menta Group has championed a belief we deeply admire — every child deserves the right to be in school. Their commitment to students with unique and complex learning needs is matched by the way they invest in the people doing the work every day.

Relay has been part of Illinois communities since 2015:
✨ 830+ graduates
✨ 80%+ focused on high-needs subject areas
✨ A continued commitment to preparing educators where they’re needed most

Thank you to The Menta Group for creating space for learning, collaboration, and possibility. We’re proud to partner in this work.

Learn more about partnering with Relay at: https://apply.relay.edu/register/?id=ebbc2bed-1677-4c05-a69a-88d8c1ab8fa2

05/13/2026

Strong student outcomes don’t happen by accident. They happen when leaders build systems designed to support every learner.

Relay’s Student-Centered Leadership Intensive is a 4-day professional learning experience built for principals, assistant principals, special education leaders, and system-level instructional leaders looking to strengthen MTSS implementation and instructional leadership.

Participants leave with:
✅ A 90-day strategic implementation plan
✅ Practical strategies for Tier 1 instruction and SEL support
✅ Tools to build stronger, data-informed instructional systems
✅ A national network of fellow school leaders

If your team is focused on creating more aligned, student-centered systems next school year, this program is perfect for you.

Learn more and enroll. Link in the comments.

05/12/2026

⏰ The countdown is on.

Applications for the National Principal Supervisors Academy and National Principal Academy Fellowship close May 29.

Join a community of leaders committed to strengthening instruction, building systems that last, and leading with clarity and purpose.

The next cohort is taking shape now—don’t miss the opportunity to learn alongside some of the most intentional school and system leaders in the field.

Apply before the deadline and step into next year with the support, strategy, and community to lead stronger.

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