Our Story: From School Improvement to Systems Change
The Office of K-12 Outreach was established in 1997 within Michigan State University's College of Education with a focus on helping schools improve student learning and strengthen leadership.
Over the years, our work has grown alongside the needs of Michigan's schools and communities. Today, we partner with districts, ISDs, state agencies, and organizations on everything from leadership development and instructional improvement to policy, research, and system-wide challenges.
While the work has evolved, one thing hasn't changed: our commitment to listening, learning, and working alongside the people who know their schools and communities best.
Where We Focus Our Work
Four Areas. One Connected Approach.
Our work spans leadership development, instructional improvement, systems change, and talent development. These areas often overlap, and the challenges our partners bring to us don't always fit neatly into one category.
Rather than starting with a predetermined solution, we work with each partner to understand what they need and bring together the right people, research, and support for the work ahead.
What Guides Our Work
These are the principles we come back to in our work—with each other and with the schools, organizations, and communities we serve.
The People Behind the Work
Educators. Researchers. Leaders. People Who Know Schools.
Our team brings experience from classrooms, school and district leadership, research, policy, and professional learning. We've worked through many of the same challenges our partners face, and that experience shapes how we listen, ask questions, and approach our work together.
Our Partners
Our partners include school districts, ISDs, state agencies, foundations, community organizations, businesses, and higher education institutions. Each brings different goals, experiences, and challenges to the table, so the work we do together looks different from one partnership to the next.
Who we work alongside
We work alongside schools and districts across Michigan to address challenges, build on what's working, and support the priorities that matter most to their communities. Our team brings firsthand experience in education together with research and practical strategies, recognizing that every school and district has its own needs.
What our work together might include:
- Supporting superintendents, principals, and leadership teams as they grow and navigate challenges
- Working with educators to strengthen instruction through professional learning and coaching
- Helping districts set priorities, develop strategic plans, and put those plans into action
- Developing mentoring and induction programs that support educators and school leaders
- Using data and feedback to better understand what's working and where adjustments may be needed
We don't come in with a one-size-fits-all solution. We listen, learn about your priorities, and work together to figure out what makes sense for your schools and community.
We work alongside state agencies to help turn education policies and statewide initiatives into practice. Our team provides hands-on technical assistance, professional learning, and implementation support, drawing on research and firsthand experience in schools and districts. We also bring perspectives from the field into policy discussions, helping agencies understand what's working, where challenges exist, and what additional support may be needed.
What our work together might include:
- Providing ongoing technical assistance to help schools, districts, and agencies understand and implement state policies, requirements, and initiatives
- Supporting statewide initiatives through implementation planning, problem-solving, and practical guidance
- Contributing research, field-based insights, and recommendations to inform policy development and refinement
- Designing professional learning and resources that help educators and leaders navigate policy changes and expectations
- Gathering and analyzing data to assess implementation, identify challenges, and inform next steps
- Facilitating conversations among state agencies, educators, and other stakeholders to connect policy decisions with experiences in the field
We understand that putting policy into practice isn't always straightforward. Our role is to help bridge that gap, providing the guidance, resources, and support needed to navigate implementation in real educational settings.
We work alongside ISDs and RESAs to support the schools and districts they serve. Whether it's bringing additional expertise to a regional initiative, supporting leadership and professional learning, or helping coordinate efforts across multiple districts, our team works with regional partners to build on what's already in place and respond to local needs.
What our work together might include:
- Providing regional professional learning, leadership development, and coaching for educators and school leaders
- Supporting initiatives that bring multiple districts together around shared priorities and challenges
- Offering technical assistance, facilitation, and planning support for regional programs and improvement efforts
- Developing practical tools, resources, and approaches that districts can use and adapt to their needs
- Partnering on grant-funded projects, statewide initiatives, and other opportunities to bring additional support to the region
ISDs and RESAs know their communities and the districts they serve. We bring additional experience, research, and resources to the table, working together to support the priorities that matter most across the region.
We partner with foundations and philanthropic organizations to bring additional resources and support to schools and districts. Many schools have important goals and ideas but limited funding to pursue them. By working together, we can help make professional learning, leadership development, and other educational supports more accessible to the communities that need them.
What our work together might include:
- Supporting leadership development, instructional improvement, and other priorities identified by schools and districts
- Creating opportunities for schools and communities that may not otherwise have access to specialized support or resources
- Developing and carrying out grant-funded initiatives that respond to educational needs across districts and regions
- Gathering data, sharing progress, and evaluating initiatives so funders can understand how their investments are being used and what we're learning
- Exploring opportunities to expand promising approaches to additional schools, districts, and communities
We recognize the responsibility that comes with philanthropic support. Our team works closely with funders and education partners to use resources thoughtfully, communicate openly, and learn from the work along the way.
We work with businesses and corporate partners who want to support Michigan's schools and the communities they serve. Through sponsorships and other investments, companies can help make leadership development, professional learning, and other educational resources more accessible to schools and districts that may not otherwise have the funding to participate.
What our work together might include:
- Sponsoring programs and initiatives that support educators, school leaders, and districts
- Helping offset participation costs so more schools and districts can access professional learning and other resources
- Supporting educational initiatives that align with a company's community investment and philanthropic priorities
- Exploring sponsorship recognition and opportunities to highlight a company's commitment to education
- Building connections between businesses, educators, and communities around shared educational priorities
Corporate partnerships are an opportunity to invest in the schools and communities that help shape Michigan's future. We work with each partner to identify opportunities that align with their interests and the needs of the schools we serve.
We work alongside community organizations and nonprofits to support schools, students, and families in ways that extend beyond the classroom. These partnerships bring together different perspectives, resources, and experiences to address shared challenges and create opportunities for the communities we serve.
What our work together might include:
- Developing initiatives that respond to the educational needs and priorities of local communities
- Bringing schools, families, nonprofits, and community organizations together around shared goals
- Supporting programs focused on student well-being, educational access, and opportunities for young people
- Providing professional learning, planning, and facilitation support for community-based initiatives
- Partnering on grant-funded projects and other efforts that connect education with broader community needs
Community organizations bring valuable relationships and firsthand knowledge of the people they serve. We build on that experience, working together to connect resources, strengthen partnerships, and support schools and communities.
We collaborate with colleges and universities to connect research, expertise, and resources with the needs of schools and educators. As part of Michigan State University's College of Education, our team brings experience working directly with schools and districts, while also drawing on faculty expertise and research. Together with our higher education partners, we develop initiatives that support educators, strengthen educational opportunities, and respond to challenges facing K-12 education.
What our work together might include:
- Collaborating on research, evaluation, and grant-funded projects that address challenges facing schools and districts
- Bringing together faculty expertise, research, and firsthand experience from the field to inform educational initiatives
- Developing and delivering professional learning, leadership development, and technical assistance
- Partnering on educator preparation, credentialing, and workforce development initiatives
- Creating practical tools, resources, and strategies that help schools and educators apply research in their daily work
- Building partnerships across institutions to pursue shared educational priorities and funding opportunities
Higher education institutions bring different strengths and perspectives to the table. By working together, we can connect that expertise with the people and places it is intended to support.
WORK WITH US
Have Something You're Working Through? Let's Talk.
Whether you have a specific project in mind, a challenge you're trying to solve, or an idea you'd like to explore, we'd welcome the opportunity to learn more.