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MEET THE TEAM
The effort and dedication teachers and leaders give day in and out to their students inspires me. I find myself energized by each ‘ah-ha!’ and ‘but wait…’ moment I am privileged to witness in teachers’ classrooms.
- Dana Coleman
MEET DANA
Dana Coleman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. After graduating, Dana taught middle school math and science as a Teach For America Corps member. She knew immediately that she’d found her calling in education. While the first two years of teaching were anything but easy, Dana could tell early on that the support and development teachers receive has a direct impact on their success in the classroom. She wanted to become a school leader who uplifted and developed teachers to be their absolute best for students.
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A few years later, Dana realized that goal by transitioning into an administrative role as a Math Instructional Coach, where she worked with teachers from 5th through 10th grade. One year after moving into school leadership, Dana became a founding school principal. It was in this role that she learned that if school leaders truly want life changing experiences for the students they serve, they must continuously chase excellence while finding joy in the minute by minute moments of a school day. Since then, she has served as both a school principal, and also assistant principal, all while continuing to oversee and coach the math department. Dana is a self-proclaimed math nerd, a lifelong lover of queso, and always has Chapstick within arm’s reach.
MEET CANDACE
Candace Wilson has spent over a decade leading recruitment efforts for a national nonprofit as well as a public school district in Missouri to ensure scholars have high-caliber educators in their classrooms. Candace has seen time and again how authentic relationship building leads to world-class talent recruitment and hiring. Her previous school was named a US News and World Report Top 10 high school in Missouri and she knows devoted and dynamic teachers made this happen. To that end, she’s developed an expertise in the full talent cycle: outreach and cultivation, screening and interviewing, hiring and onboarding. Above all, Candace is committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive educational environment: she’s proud to have played a pivotal role in increasing the representation of BIPOC educators over her tenure from 29% to an empowering 60%, creating a school community where teachers and leaders truly reflect the students served.
OUR APPROACH
We’ve Been There, We Are You
As former founders of real schools with real staff and students, we’ve been in your shoes! It keeps you up at night that staff skill levels are not as strong as what you’ve had in the past. Your palms get sweaty thinking about a sticky conversation you’re going to need to have soon. No need to worry--we are cool as a cucumber when these things come up because we too have faced these challenges--and we’ve come out on the other side thriving. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel--learn from our experiences!
We Go Alongside You
You carry the weight of so many on your shoulders. You don’t need someone coaching from the sidelines adding more things to your to-do list. You want someone who will give you actionable strategies that work in your specific context. So here’s your forewarning: working with us means we’re going to show up at your doorstep, roll up our sleeves, and get into the action with you. We won’t leave until you feel equipped with the tools and confidence you need to do hard things.
We Make It You
Your challenges are unique to your setting, and as such, your journey demands more than a one-size-fits-all approach. You deserve personalized attention and tailored solutions. We are committed to breaking the mold of cookie-cutter packages and refuse to copy and paste our services. Instead, we are committed to tailoring our services to your one-of-a-kind needs.
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OUR PROCESS
STEP1
We Dive In
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DCC will work with you to gather and analyze all relevant data to ensure we are getting to the root cause
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We'll identify strengths & opportunities for growth that will inform your next steps
STEP 2
We Game Plan
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Next, we'll propose comprehensive, high-impact action plans
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We ensure everyone is aligned on the purpose, outcomes, and goals of the project
STEP 3
We Link Arms & Go
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Embedded into our action plans, you'll receive targeted coaching cycles, both on-the-ground and virtual
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We'll coordinate opportunities for strategic professional development & recurring site visits to build capacity and provide real-time implementation support
