Weekend greetings, CharterFolk.
Today we’re delighted to release a CharterFolk Chat with Brenda Cora …
… the new CEO at Noble Public Schools, a charter management organization in Chicago operating 17 schools and serving over 12,300 students.
You can access our discussion in audio form here on our website, or on Youtube here if you prefer video.
It’s not often that the hiring of a new charter school leader becomes headline news in one of the largest newspapers in the country.
Then again, it’s not every day when one of the largest and most respected charter school organizations in the country announces that its new CEO is none other than an alumna who graduated at the top of the organization’s inaugural class over a quarter century ago.
But so is Brenda’s extraordinary leadership story.
It’s as profound an example of a leader making the noble journey toward ever greater impact as any that we find in the charter school movement.
After getting her degree at Grinnell college, she headed straight back to her hometown with a determination to make a difference …
… becoming the first Dean of Students at Rowe-Clark Middle School before being named the school’s Principal a few years later.
Soon, she was promoted to Managing Director of Noble …
… overseeing seven schools. She then ascended to Chief of Schools overseeing academic programs across all Noble schools …
… culminating in her promotion to CEO this fall.
It’s a trajectory of leadership that underscores what Brenda shared in the first few minutes of our conversation.
In taking the helm at Noble, Brenda is not …
… a leader that’s coming in. I’m a leader that’s coming up. And I know that I know our Noble community inside and out.
And as a student, educator and a leader, this really allows me to focus on our future from the very beginning.
I’m not spending a lot of time learning who we are, and instead, I’m leveraging the relationships that I built with my principals, my staff, families and students to collectively create our path forward.
Brilliant, isn’t it?
A metaphor for our entire movement.
Not coming in to public education as some outside force. But coming up within it.
Knowing that we know.
Setting all of public education on a different trajectory.
Just as Brenda is now setting Noble on a new trajectory.
I truly hope you will find time for our full conversation. I gained great insight and inspiration from it.
Highlights include:
Elaborating on the value of developing talent from within (10:12):
I think internal leadership development builds continuity for our staff, our students, our families. It really strengthens our culture and it enhances trust. And so my journey from student to teacher to CEO shows the power of investing in our people …
In a time when our current administration is creating uncertainties and fear within our community, it’s crucial for me as a school leader to remain a constant source of support for our people …
On the importance of partnership between schools and advocacy organizations (21:53):
Noble’s strong partnership with INCS (the Illinois Network of Charter Schools) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that we advocate effectively for charter students. And I think that our collective efforts with INCS not only amplifies our voice, but also reinforces our commitment to students’ success …
On the steps that she and Noble are making to support the emergence of more diverse leaders (29:58):
I lead a purpose driven life committed to just giving back to others. And so the way that so many people have poured into me, I like to pay that forward. And so I firmly believe that it’s important for students to see leaders who mirror them in their background and also in their experiences …
On the legacy she wants to leave (37:23):
I’m excited about Noble celebrating our 25th year. But more importantly, I’m excited about our future. You asked me what’s the legacy that I want to leave. I want to make sure that there are Brenda Coras who are CEOs coming out of Noble throughout our nation … I want the same transformational education that I received at Noble to be consistent and true for all the students that we serve.
Brenda Coras across the nation ensuring that students receive transformational educations.
The noble journey continues, CharterFolk.
With Brenda as yet another source of inspiration …
… on we go.