“I’ve been in education for 25 years. This is, hands down, the best professional learning experience I’ve ever had,” said Laina Cox.
Laina is a fellow in the innovative Greenhouse E3 Fellowship program. As a newly appointed CEO and Head of School at Capital City Public Charter School (PreK-12), she sought professional development to prepare her for the challenges ahead. “In all of my other leadership experiences—I had been a principal for 10 years—I felt like much of my learning was baptism by fire. For a position of this magnitude, I needed to be able to get professional development in real-time,” said Laina.
Greenhouse E3’s two-year cohort model brings Laina together with leaders from across the country to learn in community and provide one another with ongoing support. “It is really helpful, in a position like this, that is very lonely, where you are the only person in your building with that role, to be able to have a group of people to lean on that are going through this experience at the same time, and that are new to the work, too,” said Laina.
Fellows learn how to set a clear direction, lead with a strong vision, drive results, and manage the complexities of the public charter school landscape. They can also participate in one-to-one executive coaching from former public charter school network CEOs and executive directors.
Equipping new leaders to thrive can make them more likely to stay in the role—and that’s good for everyone. Studies show that a significant dip in student performance follows when a CEO leaves. A CEO’s departure can also hurt finances, the board, teachers, staff, and the local community, said Herneshia Dukes, National Fellowship Director for Greenhouse E3.
“We believe that leaders will stay in the role if they are trained properly, developed properly, and they have a lifeline. If they are receiving executive coaching from someone that has faced all these challenges that they’re encountering, and they have a really strong board. Those are the areas we focus on with the fellowship and the things that we hope to provide,” said Herneshia. “We want people to leave this experience in two years and look back and say, those are my lifelines.”
Ed Forward DC invests in the fellowship program, providing support for two cohorts of talented and dedicated new leaders. “Ed Forward DC’s multi-year investment in [Greenhouse E3] fellows is crucial for developing prepared public charter executives,” said Veronica Conforme, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3. “This approach not only fosters national connections but also builds a community of deeply connected leaders.”
“It also aims to create a talent pipeline that has a transformative impact on the students and families of DC,” said Veronica.
Building the capacity of leaders of color is a pillar of the program, intending to have at least 75% of active cohort members identifying as leaders of color. For Laina, that was a significant factor in her decision to participate. “I am not just a leader. I am not just a woman leader. I am a black woman leader. Those pieces have to be encouraged and supported in a different way,” she said.
“I will forever be indebted to Ed Forward for funding this experience for me,” said Laina, whose fellowship continues through spring 2025. “I could not have done my first year without Greenhouse.”
“I went through some major leadership challenges that had I not had the network of Greenhouse— both my current cohort and alumni—to support me in some things, I would not have been successful.”
Students do best when they have great principals and excellent teachers invested in their success. And schools are best supported when the organizations and partners they work with reflect their community. That’s why Ed Forward DC proudly invests in programs like the Greenhouse E3 Fellowship that support the development of Black and Latinx education leaders and build strong leadership pipelines for public schools.
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