San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools (SF-CESS)

San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools (SF-CESS) Providing leadership and program development by highly trained and skilled equity coaches. Discomfort should be expected and embraced.

4.

San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools (SF-CESS) intends to make an impact on the design and sustainability of new and existing small schools in San Francisco by providing coaching, technical assistance and professional development focused on equity, inquiry and achievement to a network of schools. SF-CESS will share best practices for creating the conditions necessary for schools to be equitable and high performing. SF-CESS intends to make a significant contribution to achievement and the lives of children in the San Francisco-Bay Area, as well as throughout the nation. SF-CESS is an Affiliate Center for The National Coalition of Essential Schools. SF-CESS’ WORKING DEFINITION of EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

SF-CESS defines Educational Equity as the practice of …

• holding a stance,

• developing policies and processes,

• using a set of tools, and

• making decisions and taking actions towards the explicit and intended goal of equal and excellent results for students regardless of external or internal, social or cultural contexts. SF-CESS’ work of prioritizing Educational Equity is built upon four tenets:

1. Equity is not Equality:

• Equality is about equal input (regardless of outcome) and assumes every student begins at an equal starting place and continues with constant and equal access to information, resources and support.

• Equity is about equal output – or results – based on authentic data related to student achievement and experience.

2. High Expectations are required regardless of biases or predictability of success or failure based on social or cultural contexts of students or schools.

3. Interruption may be required of current thinking, systems and constructs as well as behaviors. Alliances Across Difference will be necessary as long as there is an experience and culture gap between our teachers, students and families. We must work together to develop practices and leadership for equitable results.

"Affinity space is like oxygen for me as a Black man in a white mainstream facing institution such as school building, o...
09/14/2026

"Affinity space is like oxygen for me as a Black man in a white mainstream facing institution such as school building, or anything close. In affinity space, I have the comfort and support to speak in an authentic voice and listen with familial care. I can both heal and be healed. I can expect honest discourse, and can feel comfortable knowing that the critical feedback that I receive is based on merit, and not predatory and or nefarious attempts to sabotage and discredit me. Affinity space is necessary for survival in hostile working environments… And for Black men, every working environment that is not an affinity space is a hostile working environment."

Danny Wilcox, Lead Clinician, Oakland Unified School District

A SPACE FOR US: Black Male Educational Leaders in Community

Leadership can be isolating.
It doesn’t have to be.

A Space for Us is a facilitated virtual learning community created specifically for Black male educational leaders to come together in community, build relationships, reflect on their leadership, and learn from one another.

Across 10 months, we will create a consistent space for connection, inquiry, reflection, and growth—grounded in shared rituals, responsive themes, and the lived experiences of Black men leading in education.

THIS IS A SPACE TO:

CONNECT
Build relationships with other Black male educational leaders who understand the unique joys, challenges, and complexities of this work.

REFLECT
Make space to examine our leadership, experiences, assumptions, relationships, and impact.

INQUIRE
Explore questions that push our thinking and invite deeper understanding of ourselves, our schools, and our communities.

GROW
Learn alongside one another through shared wisdom, honest dialogue, and collective reflection.

RESPOND
Engage with the issues and experiences that emerge in real time—bringing curiosity, care, and intention to our leadership practice.

This is more than a professional development series.

It is a community of practice and belonging—a space where Black male educational leaders can show up, breathe, think deeply, laugh, question, challenge, support, and grow together.

10-MONTH VIRTUAL LEARNING COMMUNITY
3rd Wednesdays
4:30–6:30 PM PST
Virtual $950

Join us and make A Space for Us a space for you.

🔗 Learn more & join the community:
https://sf-cess.learnworlds.com/course/black-male-affinity-group

A space to connect.
A space to reflect.
A space to be seen.
A space to grow.
A space for us.

Happy Friday from SF-CESS!!What do you want to be different about how you show up this year? What would it take to make ...
09/11/2026

Happy Friday from SF-CESS!!

What do you want to be different about how you show up this year? What would it take to make that change real?

Please share your responses in the comments below.

SF-CESS Wants our community to be drink well and be fed! Please check out some of our featured dining and tasting auctio...
09/10/2026

SF-CESS Wants our community to be drink well and be fed!

Please check out some of our featured dining and tasting auction offerings.

A) Kamayan Feast
B) Paella Dinner Party
C) W**e Tasting at Benessere Vineyards in Saint Helena
D) W**e Tasting Balleto Vineyards in Sonoma
E) Private Tasting Experience at the Caves at McKahn W**es in Napa

Bidding Bids right before the event on November 7th, but you can view all of our auctions right here: https://bit.ly/4227qs9

If you're interested in joining us in person on 11/7/26 in San Mateo, tickets are available now: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fall-forum-2026-transforming-together

SF-CESS is now Virtual Learning Opportunities 1) A Space for Us: Black Male Educational Leaders in Community 2) You Can’...
09/09/2026

SF-CESS is now Virtual Learning Opportunities

1) A Space for Us: Black Male Educational Leaders in Community
2) You Can’t Lead Where You Won’t Go: A Professional Learning Community for Superintendents

______________________________________________________________________
A SPACE FOR US

Black Male Educational Leaders in Community

Leadership can be isolating.
It doesn’t have to be.

A Space for Us is a facilitated virtual learning community created specifically for Black male educational leaders to come together in community, build relationships, reflect on their leadership, and learn from one another.

Across 10 months, we will create a consistent space for connection, inquiry, reflection, and growth—grounded in shared rituals, responsive themes, and the lived experiences of Black men leading in education.

THIS IS A SPACE TO:

CONNECT
Build relationships with other Black male educational leaders who understand the unique joys, challenges, and complexities of this work.

REFLECT
Make space to examine our leadership, experiences, assumptions, relationships, and impact.

INQUIRE
Explore questions that push our thinking and invite deeper understanding of ourselves, our schools, and our communities.

GROW
Learn alongside one another through shared wisdom, honest dialogue, and collective reflection.

RESPOND
Engage with the issues and experiences that emerge in real time—bringing curiosity, care, and intention to our leadership practice.

This is more than a professional development series.

It is a community of practice and belonging—a space where Black male educational leaders can show up, breathe, think deeply, laugh, question, challenge, support, and grow together.

10-MONTH VIRTUAL LEARNING COMMUNITY
3rd Wednesdays
4:30–6:30 PM PST
Virtual $950

Join us and make A Space for Us a space for you.

🔗 Learn more & join the community:
https://sf-cess.learnworlds.com/course/black-male-affinity-group

A space to connect.
A space to reflect.
A space to be seen.
A space to grow.
A space for us.

_____________________________________________________________________

You can't lead where you won't go.

A Professional Learning Community for Superintendents

Leadership isn't only about where we're going — it's also the willingness to look inward, ask hard questions, and examine how our own experiences, beliefs, and decisions shape the communities we lead.

You Can't Lead Where You Won't Go is a facilitated virtual learning community for superintendents committed to deepening their equity-centered leadership practice.

This is a space to

• Connect with fellow superintendents navigating the complexities of educational leadership
• Reflect on the personal and professional dimensions of leading for equity
• Grow through shared inquiry, relationship-building, and responsive dialogue
• Explore the questions, tensions, and challenges of leading meaningful change

This isn't another webinar or traditional PD series. It's a learning community — a space for honest conversation, collective reflection, practitioner wisdom, and the chance to learn alongside others doing similar work.

A note on commitment: Because trust, depth, and honest dialogue build over time, participants are asked to commit to attending all 10 sessions.

Starting in October · 10 Sessions
2nd Thursdays 4:00–6:00 PM PST Virtual $950

Come ready to inquire.
Come ready to reflect.
Come ready to lead.

You can't lead where you won't go.

Register / learn more

sf-cess.learnworlds.com/course/superintendent-igroup

09/09/2026

Today's featured SF-CESS card topic is the "Voice" card from our In2Out Questions: Personalization Cards for Educators and Their Students Card Set.

The King of Spades card contains a series of questions to help our students and educators to reflect and share about their experiences expressing themselves.

(In) Self Reflection/ Journal prompt - When was the last time you felt like someone was really listening to you?

(2) Pair/ Trio Share: When was the last time you really listened to someone who had a different opinion than you?

(Out) Group Share: How can we hear more from our least represented voices?


If you're Interested in bringing these personalization cards to your learning environment,
you can purchase your own set of In2Out Cards with this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sf-cess-discourse-card-decks

Happy Friday from SF-CESS! What are you bringing into this new season that you want to carry forward—and what are you re...
09/04/2026

Happy Friday from SF-CESS!

What are you bringing into this new season that you want to carry forward—and what are you ready to leave behind?

Please share your responses in the comments below.

CONGRATULATIONS to this year's award recipients, Dr. Derek S. Mitchell and Dr. Janet Schulze! Join us for an inspiring ...
09/03/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to this year's award recipients, Dr. Derek S. Mitchell and Dr. Janet Schulze!

Join us for an inspiring evening of dinner, connection, and celebration as we showcase the impact of SF-CESS' curriculum, honor our award recipients.

Enjoy an evening of meaningful conversation, community building, and recognition.

Date: 11/7/2026
Time: 6pm - 9pm

Location: San Mateo Senior Center
2645 Alameda de las Pulgas
San Mateo, CA 94403

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fall-forum-2026-transforming-together

Today's featured SF-CESS card topic is "Expectations" from our Probing Questions to Transform Your Practice Card Set.The...
09/02/2026

Today's featured SF-CESS card topic is "Expectations" from our Probing Questions to Transform Your Practice Card Set.

The 6 of ❤️ / Expectations card contains two questions
1) How do your students know what you expect of them?
2) From which students do you expect the most/ least? Why? How would your students answer this question?

If you're Interested in bringing these personalization cards to your learning environment, you can purchase your own set of Probing Questions cards with this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sf-cess-discourse-card-decks

In Memory of Camilla GreeneIt is with heavy hearts that SF-CESS shares the passing of our beloved colleague, mentor, and...
08/28/2026

In Memory of Camilla Greene

It is with heavy hearts that SF-CESS shares the passing of our beloved colleague, mentor, and friend, Camilla Greene, on August 8, 2026, at the age of 84.

For those of us lucky enough to work alongside her, Camilla was more than a colleague — she was a guiding force. As a national equity coach, she carried her work across the country, helping educators and school communities from coast to coast learn to have the honest conversations about race, power, and equity that real transformation requires. Educators in Oregon, Chicago, Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and right here in San Francisco all knew her insight and her insistence that inequity is, in her words, "a systemic failure, not a 'kid' failure."

Camilla's path to this work ran deep. She entered Brooklyn Friends School as a five-year-old in 1947 and became its only African-American in her graduating class of1960 — an experience that shaped a lifelong commitment to dignity, trust, and voice in education. She went on to teach English for more than 25 years, help build our iGroup movement, serve as a National Facilitator for the National School Reform Faculty, and spend 15 years developing and delivering Educational Equity curriculum with a close, multiracial cohort of facilitators nationwide — work she considered the most meaningful of her career.

Wherever she went, she left communities more connected and more honest with themselves.

We invite everyone whose life Camilla touched — near and far — to join us for a virtual celebration of her life on Sunday, September 20, from 10 AM–12 PM PST. Please RSVP to receive the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffVkmmP885QePXgfV4SGpQscQQLouFhMycAxm9JiksEO3Szg/viewform

We hold her family, and everyone she taught, coached, and mentored across this country, in our hearts.

Happy Friday from SF-CESS! "It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer." — Einstein How migh...
08/28/2026

Happy Friday from SF-CESS!

"It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer." — Einstein

How might giving yourself - and others - the time to sit with a problem change what you notice, the questions you ask, or the solutions you consider?

Please share your responses in the comment section.

Address

Oakland, CA
94602

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools (SF-CESS) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category