Today's episode is featuring a recent interview Tom Vander Ark had with Brian Greenberg on creating great schools! Greenberg is an educator, investor, and entrepreneur at the intersection of technology, education, and philanthropy. He is also one of Getting Smart team's favorite people right now in education!

After teaching high school English in L.A., Brian Greenberg was the founding Principal for Leadership Public Schools in the Bay Area. He coached principals for new leaders and served as Chief Academic Officer for Envision Schools. Eight years ago, with support from the Fischer family, Greenberg opened Silicon Schools; a non-profit that has funded the creation of fifty great new Bay Area schools that foster innovation and personalization in the neighborhoods that need them most.

With the closure of school buildings, Greenberg observed his schools moving slowly to remote learning. He attributes the smooth transition to well-developed academic programs and strong school cultures.

Tune in to learn more about Brian's work in supporting great new schools as well as his insights about the important role that Silicon Schools play in advancing innovation and equity in education!

Key Takeaways:

[:10] About today's episode.

[:56] Tom welcomes Brian to the podcast!

[1:35] The best and hardest parts of teaching English in Los Angeles.

[4:27] The biggest takeaway Brian learned as a teacher.

[5:09] Brian's experience as the founding Principal for Leadership Public Schools.

[8:55] Key pieces to a successful principalship.

[9:48] Lessons Brian learned from his experience with mentoring principals for new leaders.

[12:48] What Brian learned from serving as Chief Academic Officer at Envision Schools.

[16:07] How Silicon Schools was opened with the support from the Fischer family.

[16:58] The importance of new school development and why it is high-return philanthropy.

[20:33] The challenges with taking good schools to greatness and taking okay schools to good.

[24:52] What the formula for success looks like for creating new schools.

[29:51] Where you want to be on the spectrum of a proven model vs. an innovative model when it comes to creating a new school.

[33:48] Key lessons Brian learned when their fifty schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[41:07] About Brian and Silicon School's two guidebooks/playbooks; the content they covered and what they were made for.

[42:02] The challenges educators face in planning for an uncertain August and September and how they can be solved.

[45:38] Tom thanks Brian for all of the incredible work that he does and for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Brian Greenberg

Silicon Schools

Leadership Public Schools

Envision Schools

The Gates Foundation

Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College, by Doug Lemov

Teach Like a Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College, by Doug Lemov

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence - The Playbooks

Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 259: "Eric Tucker on Reopening Schools with Equity in Mind"

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