Spend time inside two very different school districts to see up close how education leaders and teachers are creating culturally responsive school cultures and learning environments in partnership with The Leadership Academy. Now available online, a documentary film on The Leadership Academy has been produced by The Visionaries, an award-winning public television series hosted by acclaimed actor Sam Waterston of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie and formerly of NBC’s Law & Order.
Now in its 24th season, Visionaries has produced hundreds of short films on the impact nonprofit organizations around the world are having on their communities. “COVID-19 has helped illustrate some of the stark inequalities our world faces and, more than ever, the critical role nonprofits play in addressing these inequities,” said Visionaries senior producer Jody Santos. “The organizations we’re profiling in Season 24 are working to build a stronger, more just society in which no one gets left behind.”
Selected from hundreds of nonprofit organization applicants from around the world to be part of the 12-part series, The Leadership Academy shares the story of its work in Des Moines Public Schools, IA, and Lexington County School District One, SC, where The Leadership Academy staff has been partnering with school and district leaders to take a comprehensive approach to identifying and disrupting systemic inequities. Viewers will spend time in classrooms and professional learning sessions, and hear directly from students, teachers, principals, and district leaders. The 27-minute program also includes interviews with former New York City Schools Chancellor and Leadership Academy founder Joel Klein; The Leadership Academy President & CEO Nancy Gutiérrez; and several Leadership Academy alums including NYC Executive Superintendent for Manhattan Marisol Rosales, Leadership Academy Chief Access & Equity Officer Mary Rice-Boothe, and Leadership Academy Executive Vice President Michele Shannon.
The development of this film was generously funded by The Wallace Foundation, The Carson Family Charitable Trust, and American Reading Company.