Des Moines Public Schools won the National School Board Association’s Magna Award for programming that breaks down barriers for traditionally underserved students. For the last year, the NYC Leadership Academy has partnered with Des Moines to facilitate professional learning for the district’s new equity coaches. Over three years, we will support this learning through in-person, job-embedded sessions and small group coaching, with the goal of arming equity coaches with the skills to develop and support equity work in Des Moines schools.
Des Moines Public Schools was one of three districts chosen, along with Winchester Public Schools in Winchester, Virginia and Coatesville Area School District in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, out of 200 submissions.