LEARN ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DESIGN FELLOWSHIP IN TEXAS
In 2019, SEN partnered with the Texas Education Agency to launch the New School Design Fellowship (NSDF) to support aspiring school leaders. Since then, SEN has helped create 38 new schools in districts like Aldine, Crowley, and San Antonio. In 2024-2025, six more leaders from districts including Ector County and Alief joined.
TEXAS FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS 2023-2024
STUDENT OUTCOMES
SEN-supported schools are achieving strong student outcomes, particularly in math. Notably, 63% of SEN-supported schools have a higher percentage of students demonstrating grade-level proficiency in math compared to similar, non-SEN-supported Title 1 schools.
IMPROVEMENT
All fellowship schools undergo a comprehensive Fall and Spring School Quality Review, assessing school pedagogy, culture, and programming. After two years in the fellowship and four rounds of these reviews, 100% of schools showed measurable improvement.
COACHING
Our SEN coaches, former leaders of high-performing schools, use their expertise to support new school leaders. In end-of-year surveys, 100% of Fellows in the New School Design Fellowship found the coaching effective, with 16 out of 18 rating it as highly effective for student outcomes.
TEXAS FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS 2022-2023
STUDENT OUTCOMES
SEN supported schools consistently show strong student outcomes, particularly in reading and math. On average, 60% of students in these schools demonstrate on-grade-level proficiency in both subjects, outperforming the state averages of 53% in reading and 42% in math
IMPROVEMENT
We launched 16 additional new schools in the Fall of 2022, all of which completed a Fall and Spring School Quality Review, a comprehensive review of school pedagogy, culture and programming. 100% of these schools demonstrated growth from their Fall to Spring review, meaning they improved in at least one category.
COACHING
100% of our coaches are former school leaders of high-performing schools, and their experience shines in their work supporting new schools. 100% of our Fellows in the New School Design Fellowship in end-of-year satisfaction surveys rate the coaching they receive as either effective or highly effective, with 87% rating it highly effective.
WHAT OUR TEXAS FELLOWS SAY
AMAZING! Amazing! Amazing! There is always an agenda, but my coach also gives me time to explain the support I need, and he supports me in the moment. He has a protocol, book, system, or quote for anything I need. I’ve learned so much from him.
My coach really helps me see things through a different lens as he coaches me. He pushes my own thinking and has me reflect on my goals to improve my leadership abilities. We look at the goals we have established for our campus and the systems and practices that are in place to see if there is alignment. The way he coaches me has supported my coaching with my teachers. I try to model what he does with me as he coaches me.
SEN has helped me to identify, prioritize, plan, and implement intentional opportunities for our staff and students. SEN goes a step further by staying with me. In other words, SEN keeps me focused on the plan and implementation through reflection and encouragement even when it’s easy to get caught up in the thick of all the distraction that comes the way of the principal.
My coach pushes and challenges me with good questions that help me to arrive at answers I didn’t know I have. He also varies his support based on my needs. I need a lot of help with some things and he will help me see it through to completion (ie: co-location) and other times I just need a nudge or to get started so I can carry through the rest.