How do you ensure that your school starts strong on day one?
In the case of BES Fellows, you spend two years training, and building a board, and hiring, and enrolling students, and securing a facility, and planning and practicing every aspect of your school, down to the smallest detail.
This summer, 13 BES Fellows opened the doors to new schools for students in their communities.
Our Directors of Leadership Development — who have coached these leaders during their Fellowship and planning years, and who will continue to coach them in their schools’ first years of operation — shared the following “notes from the field” as they observed these schools’ first days:
“Aligned and ambitious team.”
“The leader has 100% the right mindsets and toughness to guide the school to excellence.”
“Attention to detail is evident everywhere.”
“The leader is fighting for enrollment at all hours of the day and week, while pushing the quality of instruction during her time in the building.”
“Strong start for an important and mighty little school.”
These quotes offer just a taste of the brutally hard yet rewarding work of the first few days of school for founders. We’re proud to stand beside you and support you, so that you can support your team and your students.
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Aster College Preparatory
Memphis, TN Grades: 5, Growing to 5 – 8 Founder and Head of School: Teshanda Middleton, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Bloom Academy
Houston, TX Grades: K – 1, Growing to K – 5 Founder and Head of School: Courtney Rodriguez Sales, 2017 BES Fellow |
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BOLD Charter School
New York, NY Grades: K-1, Growing to K – 5 Founder and Head of School: Andrew Foglia, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Brooklyn RISE
New York, NY Grades: K – 1, Growing to K – 5 Founder and Head of School: Cary Finnegan, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Creo College Preparatory
New York, NY Grades: 5, Growing to 5 – 9 Founder and Head of School: Ben Samuels-Kalow, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Ethos Classical
Atlanta , GA Grades: K, Growing to K – 4 Founder and Head of School: Emily Castillo Leon, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Hayward Collegiate
Hayward, CA Grades: TK – 1, Growing to TK – 5 Founder and Head of School: Neena Goswamy, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Memphis Merit Academy Memphis, TN Grades: K – 1, Growing to K – 8 Founder and Head of School: Lakenna Booker, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Perseverance Preparatory
San Jose, CA Grades: 5, Growing to 5 – 8 Founder and Head of School: Alex LeeNatali, 2016 BES Fellow |
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Rêve Preparatory
Houston, TX Grades: K – 1, Growing to K – 5 Founder and Head of School: Traci Thibodeaux, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Solare Collegiate
Albuquerque, NM Grades: 5, Growing to 5 – 8 Founder and Head of School: Rachael Sewards, 2017 BES Fellow |
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Valence College Preparatory
New York, NY Grades: 5, Growing to 5 – 8 Founder and Head of School: Mitch Flax, 2017 BES Fellow |
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