#11 Guest: Derek Mitchell, Partners in School Innovation

2025-06-24

In this episode of Implement Change in Education, we’re joined by the visionary Dr. Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation. With deep roots as a district leader, researcher, and systems thinker, Dr. Mitchell shares a powerful perspective on what it really takes to improve outcomes in under-resourced schools. Drawing from decades of work across the country—and his own experience growing up on Chicago’s West Side—he offers a bold yet practical take on school transfo...

In this episode of Implement Change in Education, we’re joined by the visionary Dr. Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation.

With deep roots as a district leader, researcher, and systems thinker, Dr. Mitchell shares a powerful perspective on what it really takes to improve outcomes in under-resourced schools. Drawing from decades of work across the country—and his own experience growing up on Chicago’s West Side—he offers a bold yet practical take on school transformation.

“Improvement,” says Dr. Mitchell, “is both an art and a science. The science is in the tools. The art is in how people show up in moments of challenge and stay in community to do the work together.”

We explore:

Why equity must start with adult learning and intentional culture
The power of embedded, high-trust coaching in high-need schools
Results-Oriented Cycles of Improvement (ROCI) as a strategy for change
Leading through reflection, clarity of purpose, and community proximity
Lessons from the Gates Foundation’s Networked Improvement Communities initiative

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of education—leaders, teachers, parents, and advocates alike.

Comments (3)