Helping leaders carry the weight — and rediscover the joy.
About Us
You didn’t become a superintendent, principal, or education leader because you wanted to manage politics, budgets, and adult agendas. You did it because you believe in schools where every student feels like they belong and leaves ready for what’s next.
At APC Leadership Collaborative, we help you navigate the demands of leadership without losing sight of your mission. Through coaching, change management, and professional learning facilitation, we work alongside you to keep students and staff at the center of every decision — while helping you reconnect with the purpose that brought you here in the first place.
We’ve walked the halls you walk. We’ve sat in the chairs you sit in. And we know how heavy it can get.
We’ll help you act in the best interests of every student and staff member in your school district.
Why APC Leadership Collaborative?
Over 90 years of combined experience.
Work in 47 states.
Thousands of hours coaching leaders through both ordinary days and impossible ones.
Our team brings experience from the classroom, the principal’s office, district leadership, and even elected office. We’ve navigated crises, celebrated successes, and weathered political storms alongside the school leaders we serve.
We started APC Leadership Collaborative with the idea that listening to superintendents, central office staff, teachers and students is more important than telling them what to do. We coach in a collaborative way that brings the best out of every education professional and supports them through the complex work of human and systems change.
We believe in leading with compassion, courage, and community — helping you shoulder the weight, make values-based decisions, and build school systems that serve every student.
The Story Behind Our Name
APC stands for apenas se puede creer — a Spanish idiom meaning “I can hardly believe it.”
Co-founder Jamie Almanzán grew up hearing his grandfather say this phrase whenever reflecting on their great fortune to have education, family, health, and community. It’s a reminder to recognize the blessings in the work and the people around us.
Today, APC captures our belief that we are incredibly fortunate to partner with education leaders like you — people committed to creating schools where every student feels safe, seen, and supported.
Our Values
What we believe about schools:
- Public schools should serve all students.
- Decisions should be based on the needs of students – not the concerns of adults.
- For students to succeed in school, they need to feel safe and excited to learn.
What we believe about our clients:
- You got into education because you want to help students excel and experience joy in school.
- You’re carrying a heavy responsibility. Support will help you make the best decisions for your people and show up as the leader you want to be.
- Everyone from parents to teachers, to principals, to school board members, to district staff, needs to actively participate to create productive change.
- The most powerful change happens when we work together across titles, levels, and differences.
- Change takes time, feedback, and practice.
Support will help you and your staff more effectively serve students, persist in the face of challenges, and feel more fulfilled in your work.
Let’s partner to make the change you envision possible.
What Our Partners Say
“In Oceanside Unified School District, we’ve had the great opportunity to partner with the APC Collaborative to support our school lead learners — including teachers, counselors, and classified staff — in learning and leading in ways that truly foster safe, affirming, and inclusive schools for all. Through this partnership, APC Coaches have skillfully guided our lead learners in developing site-based school improvement plans, deepening their understanding of influence and leadership, and anchoring their work in conviction and purpose. Their facilitation has helped us advance a shared commitment: that every student deserves a school experience grounded in belonging, achievement, and joy. The APC Collaborative has been more than a professional learning partner — they’ve been a catalyst for sustainable, purposeful change in our schools.”
“I’ve had the privilege of engaging in professional development with APC Leadership Collaborative and working one-on-one with a coach. That experience transformed my leadership. It helped me confront the gap between my beliefs, biases, and behaviors — and ultimately made me a more courageous and purposeful leader. Every school leader should have access to this kind of support. It’s not just professional growth — it’s essential for creating truly successful schools.”