The Relay® Report
A note from Relay’s President
Dr. Sarah Johnson, President and CEO Relay Graduate School of Education
Creating a Strong Start: How Principals Can Plan for Impact
Every year, Relay partners with hundreds of school leaders to create custom playbooks designed to help them focus on what matters most: leading with purpose rather than putting out fires.
For high school principal Ashely Martin, that meant developing a “Strong Start” Playbook that outlined exactly what to look for in hallways and classrooms, when to observe them, and how to follow up. Much like an NFL quarterback keeps a playbook at hand on the field, these guides help leaders act with clarity and intention from day one
Principal Supervisor, University Prep Schools, Michigan
When Exceptional Leadership Becomes the Norm
School leaders who consistently defy the odds are often seen as the exception - but what if their success could become the standard? In Making the Exception the Norm, Relay studied four high-performing leaders to identify common practices driving extraordinary outcomes. By centering staff on student learning, distributing leadership, investing in talent development, and adapting systems to meet evolving needs, these leaders created a school environment where exceptional became the expected.
Beyond the Back-to-School Survey: Culturally Responsive Teaching All Year Long
Culturally responsive teaching shouldn’t stop after the first week of school. By building practices that honor students’ identity and strengths all year long, school leaders can create a trusted space for deeper, more authentic engagement in the classroom.
Take a look at some of the strategies and real life examples from Relay partners who make culturally responsive teaching a daily practice.
Employee Spotlight: Trevor Crandall
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