2026 District Leadership Institute Takes on Phoenix

Last week, the 2026 cohort of GEAR UP district and school leaders gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, for the District Leadership Institute for Systemic Change (DLI). Working alongside our partners at Inflexion, they tested new strategies together and left with ideas they can put to work right away.

A Six-Month Journey

DLI is NCCEP’s premier leadership development program for GEAR UP districts and schools, delivered in partnership with Inflexion. This year’s cohort first came together over the summer at the 2026 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The final convening in Phoenix gave the cohort the opportunity to reconnect, share progress, and dig a little deeper. The work prioritized linking school-level efforts to districtwide leadership while strengthening skills in collaborative leadership, effective communication, and student voice.

In Their Own Words

 

"It strengthened my leadership skills and challenged me to think outside the box and outside my normal routine. It has made me more intentional in how I collaborate, how I create opportunities, and how I'm partnering with my families."

– Acqunita Jones, Site Coordinator
DeSoto Independent School District (TX)

 

Keep the Momentum Going

A big thank you to all the 2026 District Leadership Institute graduates for joining us in Phoenix! NCCEP is also grateful for the generous hospitality provided by the Helios Education Foundation and Education Forward Arizona. Over the course of the gathering, participants reflected on their work, practiced new tools for engaging students, families, and staff, and exchanged strategies with peers facing similar challenges.

While this cohort’s time in DLI has come to a close, their impact is just getting started. The strategies they built and the relationships they formed will live on in their schools and districts, shaping how they lead and support students for years to come.

Considering DLI for your district? Applications for the 2027 cohort open in January. Submit an interest form below to receive updates and be the first to know when the application is available.

Get Notified

Please join us in recognizing the 2026 District Leadership Institute cohort, the leaders advancing this work in their districts:

  • Brandi Brewer, Director of Counseling, Instruction, and Food Service
    Augusta Independent School (KY)

  • Lori Sexton, CTE Director
    Bedford County Schools (TN)

  • Leslie Eldridge, College, Career, & Technical Education Director
    Cumberland County Schools (TN)

  • Acqunita Jones, Site Coordinator
    DeSoto Independent School District (TX)

  • Chatney Mercer, Site Coordinator
    DeSoto Independent School District (TX)

  • Michael Green, Site Coordinator
    DeSoto Independent School District (TX)

  • Nathan Jenkins, Family/Financial Advocate
    DeSoto Independent School District (TX)

  • Shavannia Dash, Assistant Director
    Education Service Center Region 10 (TX)

  • Clarence Cross, Associate Director, College & Career Pathways
    Friendship Public Charter School (DC)

  • Jarrod Craig, Building Administration
    Haysville Public Schools (KS)

  • Jennifer Reed, Assistant Superintendent for Learning Services
    Haysville Public Schools (KS)

  • Kelli Bennett, Associate Director
    Haysville Public Schools (KS)

  • Amber Miller, GEAR UP Coordinator
    Iowa Department of Education (IA)

  • Jason Booher, Superintendent
    Mercer County Schools (KY)

  • Ericca Pollack, Supervisor, College Access
    Milwaukee Public Schools (WI)

  • Lee Anne Strickland, Federal Programs Director & GEAR UP Program Director
    Monroe County Schools (TN)

  • Rusell Harris, Principal
    Monroe County Schools (TN)

  • Christina Beal, Deputy Assistant Superintendent
    Office of the State Superintendent of Education (DC)

  • Kimberly Romero, Grant Manager, College and Career Readiness
    Office of the State Superintendent of Education (DC)

  • Marquita Hardy, Director, College and Career Readiness
    Office of the State Superintendent of Education (DC)

  • Dr. Bobbie Sue Gonzalez, Senior Director
    Region One Education Service Center (TX)

  • Gaudy Espinoza, College and Career Specialist
    Region One Education Service Center (TX)

  • Ricardo Lopez, GEAR UP Director
    Region One Education Service Center (TX)

  • Debbie Brown, THEC Regional Director
    Tennessee Higher Education Commission (TN)

  • Elvin Browne, Regional Director
    Tennessee Higher Education Commission (TN)

  • Juan Gilberto Garcia Jr., Vice President for Enrollment Management
    Texas A&M International University (TX)

  • Noemi Barbosa, GEAR UP Site Coordinator/Counseling Service Coordinator
    University of Washington/Yakima School District (WA)

  • Diamond Wilder, Program Manager
    Westwood Heights and Beecher Community School Districts (MI)

  • Charles Davis Jr., Principal
    Ypsilanti Community Schools (MI)

  • Leslie Davis, Administration
    Ypsilanti Community Schools (MI)

 
 
Luis Gonzalez