Blog Post
Graham Browne Leaders to Learn From: BES Accelerator
In addition to 1:1 coaching, visits to high-performing schools, cohort collaboration, and training from BES experts, participants in the School Management & Leadership Accelerator will also learn from BES alumni who will share insights and best practices drawn from their first-hand experience leading schools, managing teams, and navigating the complex challenges school leaders face year-round. Meet one of those facilitators:
Graham Browne is a 2015 BES Fellow who founded and currently serves as CEO of Forte Preparatory Academy in Queens, New York. Forte Prep is a 5-11 school that is driven by a philosophy of achieving excellence in all facets of life and learning. Through rigorous academics, creative & technical enrichment, and leadership development, they are transforming the lives of students from diverse backgrounds and preparing them to excel at college preparatory high schools and beyond.
What takeaways from your BES experience continue to stick with you today?
“The biggest takeaway from my BES experience that still resonates with me is the understanding that small details, when intentionally layered, build the systems that drive school success. You can’t build a strong school without strong systems—whether in coaching, operations, culture, or academics—and it’s the attention to those seemingly small details that makes the difference.”
Tell us about a few significant achievements made by your school since it opened in 2017.
“From our earliest years, we’ve consistently demonstrated strong academic growth, particularly in ELA and Math, among students who enter below grade level. In our most recent school year’s assessment data (2023-24), 77% and 83% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA and Math, respectively. The majority of our students leave 8th grade ready for the rigor of high school, and we’ve seen steady increases in Regents pass rates and MAP growth data over time.
One of our most transformational milestones was opening our high school in 2023. This allowed us to build on the foundation we established in middle school and deliver on our promise to prepare students for college, careers, and life. Our first high school cohort is now preparing for 11th grade with a college-going culture deeply embedded in the school. We are preparing to move our high school program from a temporary space to a 60,000 square foot new construction in the summer of 2026.”
What advice would you give to leaders navigating the first five years of their role?
“Commit to getting a little bit better at your role every day. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
What excites you about supporting leaders in the BES Accelerator, and how can they get the most out of their time during the program?
“I’m excited to support leaders in the BES Accelerator because I believe it represents a thoughtful evolution of BES’s school leadership programming. I’m honored to work alongside a cohort of brilliant school leaders whose work I deeply respect, and to contribute to a network of authentic, meaningful support for leaders across the country. This opportunity also offers me a valuable chance to reflect on and codify what’s working in our own school—both as a way to give back and as a powerful exercise in my own leadership growth.”
Want to learn from Graham and experts at BES who can help you strengthen your skills and bring operational excellence to your school? The School Management & Leadership Accelerator is currently accepting applications for the inaugural 2025 cohort, which will begin September 16, 2025.
This eight-month, cohort-based program builds upon the foundations of our previous LENS program and aims to help leaders develop sharp business acumen, strong emotional intelligence, and the confidence to drive lasting, transformative change. Leaders will strengthen their knowledge and skills in operations and budget management, strategic planning, data analysis, vision setting, instructional leadership, performance management, and more.
The BES Accelerator is for all K-12 leaders who manage people or programs, and are in the first five years of their leadership role. This includes school leadership such as Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans of Students, Directors of Instruction, Directors of Operations, and more.
The deadline to apply is September 12.
Learn more & apply: bes.org/programs/accelerator
