SREB - School Improvement

06/02/2026

It is almost time for the Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville, July 14-17! Whether you are finalizing your session schedule or just starting to pack, the energy is building for an incredible week of learning, networking and innovation.

We want to hear from you:

- What are you most looking forward to learning or experiencing this year?

- For the Music City veterans, what is the absolute best place to eat in Nashville? (We need those hot chicken and BBQ recommendations!)

- When you attend an education conference, what do you most expect to take away to support your school or district?

Drop your thoughts, recommendations and expectations in the comments below. Let's start the conversation early!

https://www.sreb.org/conference

06/01/2026

What does AI usage look like inside real classrooms?

From instructional media coordinators in Delaware to AI teachers in residence in Florida, educators are finding innovative ways to use AI as a thought partner. Whether it is streamlining administrative work or building secure CloudLabs for students to explore data safely, these success stories show that AI is a catalyst for reimagining the classroom.

https://www.sreb.org/stories-teaching-ai

05/15/2026

TEACH Sumner in Tennessee, powered by SREB's Teaching to Lead teacher preparation program, achieved a 94% teacher retention rate over the last 3 years!

Find out how Teaching to Lead helps new career and technical education teachers become great teachers. sreb.org/cte-teacher-preparation

Sumner County Schools, Tennessee

Congratulations to the newest cohort of newly certified teachers from Teach Sumner in Sumner County, TN!!! This is the 2nd cohort of CTE teachers and the 1st cohort of ELA, Humanities, Math, and Science teachers. Teach Sumner is powered by SREB's Teaching to Lead teacher preparation program. Boastin...

05/13/2026

How can we ensure K-12 educators are prepared to lead in the age of AI? Our latest report from the SREB Commission on AI in Education outlines four essential considerations for designing high-quality professional learning plans. It isn't just about the tools—it is about ethically and effectively integrating technology to meet the unique needs of every student.

Read the full report: https://www.sreb.org/post/considerations-designing-ai-professional-learning-educators

05/13/2026

Stop labeling teachers as resistant. Try thinking of them as teachers experiencing resistance instead.

In the latest episode of our Making Schools Work Podcast, we talk to Becca Silver at The Whole Educator Community and break down:

* Why niceness can be a silent progress blocker.
* The shift from fidelity to integrity.
* How to listen for unmet needs instead of listening to respond.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.sreb.org/post/stop-misdiagnosing-resistance-5-catalyst-mindsets-every-instructional-coach-needs

05/11/2026

SREB is seeking an experienced Instructional Coach to support our Career and Technical Education centers.

In this hands-on role, you will mentor instructors and enhance instructional quality across high-impact pathways, including:

🏗️ Agriculture, Trade & Industry and Engineering
🩺 Health Science and Family & Consumer Sciences
📖 Research-based pedagogy and CTE lab management

The starting salary is $86,000 plus a generous benefits package. If you are educator with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) and ready to help improve the social and economic vitality of the South, apply today: sreb.org/careers.

05/08/2026

Teachers are the ultimate long-term investors. While they teach subjects like math, history or science, they are also acting as future-focused mentors. They are modeling resilience, sparking curiosity and teaching the collaboration skills that students will carry with them for decades.

To the educators who don’t just teach lessons, but mentor humans: thank you for investing in the people our students are becoming.

Tag a teacher who changed your trajectory in the comments below!

05/07/2026

The 9-to-5 doesn't exist in education. Today (and tonight!), we’re honoring the night owls—the teachers whose dining room tables are covered in essays and whose Sunday afternoons are spent perfecting a lesson for Monday morning.

The most impactful feedback often comes from a pen moved by a desk lamp long after the school lights have gone out. We appreciate the dedication that happens when no one is watching.

05/06/2026

Are you leading your school, or just grinding? 📈

​When Bethany Wilson opened Gladeville Middle School, she brought a relentless work ethic—but she quickly realized that working like an AP wasn't the same as leading like a principal. To build the #1 ranked middle school in her county, she had to shift from the work grind to a leadership mentality.

​In this week's episode, the Tennessee Principal of the Year shares:

​The Growth Mindset: How she maintained 5 consecutive years of Level 5 TVAAS growth by reframing data as a lifeline, not a boogeyman.

​Capacity Building: How to transition from doing all the tasks to developing an army of learners and leaders.

​Authentic PLCs: Why the most successful teams in her building are the ones who talk all day, not just once a week.

​🔗 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.sreb.org/post/high-growth-blueprint-5-years-level-5-excellence

​

05/06/2026

Are you leading your school, or just "grinding"? 📈

​When Bethany Wilson opened Gladeville Middle School, she brought a relentless work ethic—but she quickly realized that "working like an AP" wasn't the same as leading like a principal. To build the #1 ranked middle school in her county, she had to shift from the work grind to a leadership mentality.

​In this week's episode, the Tennessee Principal of the Year shares:

​The Growth Mindset: How she maintained 5 consecutive years of Level 5 TVAAS growth by reframing data as a lifeline, not a boogeyman.

​Capacity Building: How to transition from doing all the tasks to developing an "army of learners" and leaders.

​Authentic PLCs: Why the most successful teams in her building are the ones who "talk all day," not just once a week.

​🔗 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.sreb.org/post/high-growth-blueprint-5-years-level-5-excellence

​