Good day, CharterFolk.
Today we are pleased to share a Contributor Column from Sabrina Pence, CEO of FirstLine Schools in New Orleans, Louisiana.
We provide a bio for Sabrina below.
Sabrina Pence graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and subsequently joined Teach For America during which she taught in Pointe Coupee Parish for four years as a fifth and sixth grade teacher. During that time, she received her master’s degree in educational administration from Louisiana State University in 2005. She served as a teacher leader, leading parish-wide professional development and teaching a K-3 alternative teacher certification course through TNTP. In 2006, she moved overseas to Qatar and worked in educational reform as a science consultant for K-6 schools, training Qatari teachers to implement standards-based science instruction. In 2008, she returned to the United States to join New Leaders for New Schools in New Orleans, LA. After completing her New Leaders residency at Arthur Ashe, Pence served as principal of Albert Wicker Literacy Academy, where the school saw unprecedented gains, then returning to Arthur Ashe as vice principal, because she knew it was home. Sabrina served as the school co-director at Arthur Ashe Charter School from 2011-2014, leading the school to achieve a “B”letter grade in the state accountability system. Sabrina became FirstLine’s chief academic officer in July 2014 and led all FirstLine Schools to achieve “A” letter grades for growth, with two of the schools, Samuel J. Green and Langston Hughes Academy, recognized as top growth in the region. Sabrina was named as CEO beginning in July 2019 by FirstLine’s board of directors. Sabrina recently completed her doctorate in educational administration at the University of New Orleans.
Cultivating Engagement and Bridging Learning Gaps: Innovative Strategies at FirstLine Schools
Introduction
When my team at FirstLine Schools …
… refreshed the Louisiana testing website last June, we erupted in cheers — our students’ engagement and academic gains were right there in the data. For years, we’ve battled persistent learning gaps, especially in the neighborhoods we serve. The pandemic widened them even further. But last year, we saw something different: progress. Real, measurable progress. And we’re not stopping here.
Understanding the Challenge
Overview of Learning Gaps
Before the pandemic, we already saw gaps in reading, math, and the social-emotional skills students need to collaborate and think critically. After that period of interrupted learning, it turns out these gaps were not just about missing content —t hey were about students struggling to re-engage, to see themselves as capable learners.
Impact on Engagement
Students can’t thrive if their teachers are exhausted. Right now, our educators are not just teaching — they’re catching students up, re-engaging them, and filling in emotional and academic gaps, all while navigating external pressures. If we don’t support them, we lose them. And if we lose them, we lose the foundation of our schools. As CEO, this is my top priority.
FirstLine Schools’ Holistic Approach
Mission and Vision
FirstLine Schools is committed to nurturing our scholars in mind, body, and spirit, preparing them for college, fulfilling careers, and healthy lives. Our network’s approach prioritizes whole-child development, ensuring that students not only excel academically but also develop strong social and emotional skills. It’s not just nice to have, it is crucial to the life changing work of education and why I chose to teach here, then lead one of our schools, and now have the great privilege to lead the network.
Innovative Educational Strategies
At the core of our instructional approach is collaboration. Our shared-content model across K-8 schools allows teachers to work together, refining best practices and ensuring consistency in student experiences. Hands-on, real-world learning opportunities encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, making education both engaging and meaningful for students. Come and visit and you’ll see the range of collaboration across our four unique campuses — each with distinct cultures and diversity of student needs — while nonetheless reflecting the shared priorities at the core of FirstLine’s holistic approach. Let’s dive in to understand the common threads that I believe have us on the right course for continued academic growth and success:
Spotlight on the Edible Schoolyard Program
Program Overview
At FirstLine, we believe students learn best when they feel connected — to their peers, to their teachers, and to the real-world relevance of their learning. One of our most powerful tools for building this connection? A garden.
The Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA) program …
… is a cornerstone of FirstLine’s commitment to student health, community engagement, and experiential learning. By integrating gardening, cooking, and nutrition education into the curriculum, we create a dynamic learning experience that fosters a deeper connection between students and their education. A third-grade student said, “I feel so warm and safe in the garden…the sun makes me feel warm, and they have peaceful flowers and the teachers will protect the students.” This is the essence of what we are trying to accomplish.
Integration into Curriculum
Through hands-on cooking classes and gardening activities, students apply academic concepts in real-world settings. These experiences enhance understanding across subjects, from science and math to literacy and social studies, making learning tangible and engaging. An 8th grade student at Green, Irin, said, “Before Science was one of my classes, I learned that a caterpillar became a butterfly in the garden. Science and Garden go together.” YES!! In this we see the connection between the real world and science in action.
… bring students, families, and staff together to prepare meals using produce from the school gardens. These events reinforce healthy eating habits, strengthen family-school connections, and create a sense of shared responsibility for student success. This was particularly important during the pandemic — Chef Megan Brummer, one of our chef educators at the time, created Zoom cooking classes for families and would make dinner with families at Green. I was able to join one of these nights, and I remember how connected everyone felt in a time where we were all missing connection.
Teacher Development and Support
Adult Culture
At FirstLine Schools, we recognize that a thriving student culture begins with a strong, supportive adult culture. This summer, we invested deeply in building a shared understanding of our commitments and the specific behaviors that bring them to life. We focused on norming these behaviors across our schools, ensuring that every staff member plays a role in “setting the weather” — creating a positive, consistent environment where educators feel valued, heard, and empowered. By aligning on these expectations, we are strengthening the foundation for collaboration, trust, and continuous growth.
Beyond setting these norms, we have worked intentionally to create systems for regular feedback and dialogue. Through frequent staff surveys, we gather insights on the experiences of our educators and bring that feedback back to teams in meaningful ways. To further elevate teacher and staff voice, we launched a Food & Feedback series, a space where educators can engage in open conversations about key issues highlighted in surveys or other pressing topics. This initiative fosters transparency, responsiveness, and a culture where every team member feels that their perspective matters. By prioritizing these efforts, we are not only strengthening our adult culture but also reinforcing our commitment to the success and well-being of our entire school community.
Robust Professional Development
FirstLine Schools is deeply committed to providing robust professional development opportunities that empower educators to refine their craft, collaborate with peers, and stay informed about best practices. Through structured training, coaching, and collaborative learning experiences, teachers receive the tools they need to support student success.
Why WOOF?
We piloted WOOF …
… at the end of last year as a way to strengthen well-being and classroom culture. Due to its early success in improving student engagement, we expanded it this school year and will expand it even further next year.
We chose WOOF because we understood that student engagement hinges on feeling heard, valued, and connected. WOOF provides tools to measure and improve school belonging, helping teachers understand their students’ perspectives and address barriers to engagement.
Its anonymous nature encourages students to be honest about their experiences at school and at home. It’s also a light lift for teachers—providing quick check-ins and offering challenges and brain breaks to match the classroom’s needs.
By integrating SEL into our academic program rather than isolating it, we create environments where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn.
Outcomes and Impact
Student Engagement and Achievement
Early insights from our 7-month School Belongingness controlled study, with the support of a doctoral candidate from the University of Chicago, indicate that the classrooms using WOOF tools are seeing improved student belonging and engagement. More comprehensive data at the end of the year will allow us to compare outcomes between classrooms using WOOF and those that are not, providing a clearer picture of its impact and opportunity for us to take action.
Teacher Satisfaction and Retention
Our teacher support structures — robust professional development, career pathways, and SEL integration—have contributed to greater teacher satisfaction and retention. By intentionally focusing on adult culture and reinforcing our core values, we aim to increase teacher retention, ensuring that students benefit from consistent, high-quality instruction. Teachers feel more supported in their roles, reducing burnout and strengthening their commitment to student success. Our final measure on our success in these initiatives will be our teacher retention rate.
Conclusion
Recap of Key Points
FirstLine Schools is bridging learning gaps and fostering engagement through a holistic approach that integrates hands-on learning, community involvement, teacher collaboration, and social-emotional learning. From the Edible Schoolyard program to WOOF’s student voice tools, we are creating an environment where both students and teachers thrive.
Call to Action
School leaders, educators, and policymakers can adopt similar strategies by prioritizing collaboration, integrating real-world learning experiences, and embedding social-emotional learning into their schools. Investing in both student and teacher engagement is key to driving sustainable change in education.
Closing Thought
The work ahead isn’t easy, but it’s urgent. FirstLine Schools are proving that when we invest in whole-child learning — when we support both students and teachers — engagement and achievement follow. Let’s commit to learning from each other, investing in what works, and ensuring that every child, in every community, has access to a school that helps them thrive.