You didn’t get into education leadership to navigate adult politics or daily fires.

Our Approach

You got into education leadership to make school better for kids. But between competing priorities, school board meetings, and the fact that a student just threw up on the stairs and your custodian is nowhere to be seen… the work of creating joyful, meaningful learning for students too often gets overtaken by the need to manage adult concerns.

That’s where APC Leadership Collaborative comes in.

We’re a coaching collective that helps superintendents and district leaders reclaim their focus, rally their communities, and build school systems where every student feels they belong and graduates ready to thrive — in college, career, and life.

How We Work

Courageous, mission-driven leadership isn’t a solo act. We partner with education leaders to design practical, values-driven strategies that align your decisions with the needs of every student and staff member — while navigating the realities of politics and limited resources.

Our work blends:

Leadership coaching

Change management strategy

Professional learning facilitation

We customize our approach to your district’s goals, context, and community — getting everyone from students and teachers to parents, school board members, and staff moving in the same direction.

Key Strategies We Use

Cohort-Based Leadership Model + Individual Coaching

Your budget is being cut, you’ve got staffing challenges, too many students are still behind — and you feel like you have to deal with it alone. Our Cohort-Based Leadership Model builds tight-knit, trusting spaces where principals, district leaders, and site teams can be honest about challenges, tackle tough issues together, and push each other toward bold, student-centered goals. We combine cohorts with 1:1 coaching so leaders can apply what they’re learning in real time — in meetings with staff, parents, and the school board, and when tough calls land on their desk.

Centering Student Voices Via The Students’ Six Process

Too often, adults talk about students without them in the room. Our Students’ Six Process is a professional development model we pioneered and successfully implemented in multiple districts that centers student voices and needs. We help students show their teachers how they can help them learn better in the classroom. When your own students say, “here’s what helps me” — teachers listen. Students feel agency over their education and staff feel excited to make a difference. Schools get safer, more connected, and student outcomes improve.

Listening & Learning Assessments

Before we recommend anything, we listen. Our assessments gather qualitative and quantitative data to uncover the actual student and staff experience — identifying root causes of disparities, points of disconnection, and opportunities for improvement. We turn those insights into practical, priority-aligned actions you can track over time.

Change Management + Political Navigation

You’re not just leading a district. You’re navigating media narratives, political agendas, vocal interest groups, and the daily surprises of public education (like when the fire alarm goes off during your board presentation). Our team includes former principals, policy strategists, school board members, and elected officials who will help you manage politically charged climates, lead through resistance, and help you keep your district focused on what matters: students.

Why It Works

Our models are grounded in proven research and built from real, in-the-trenches education  leadership experience. We integrate insights from experts like Ronald Heifetz, Zaretta Hammond, and Jim Knight with field-tested strategies from our work in diverse districts nationwide.

We don’t do one-offs. Work with us if you’re after district-wide systems change to create schools where every student and staff member wakes up excited to go to school.

Let’s build a district where every student and staff member belongs, learns, and thrives — together.

Let's Work Together

You don’t have to lead alone.

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.”

Dr. Jordy Sparks

OUSD Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Student Supports

“Partnering with the team at APC has been the best investment we’ve made in our team. Their coaching helped us grow not just as professionals, but as a true team, learning how to lean into each other’s strengths and communicate with clarity and care. We’ve been able to leverage the trust we’ve built to navigate challenges, stay aligned, and keep students at the center of everything we do. Their support has been a game-changer for how we lead together.”

Erika McMahan

Program Director, GEAR UP Arkansas