Curriculum Associates announced the newest class of the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Collaborative (EELC) on Oct. 1, 2026, marking the fourth year of the national program. Based in Billerica, Mass., Curriculum Associates serves more than 17 million students and one million educators nationwide through educational programs including i-Ready and Ready.
What Changed
Curriculum Associates officially welcomed the Class of 2027 to the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Collaborative. The new class comprises 15 principals and school leaders representing 12 states across the country. Members of this newest cohort are currently in their first through fifth years in their current leadership roles and bring direct experience using Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready and/or Ready programs within their respective educational environments.
The announcement highlights a continued national commitment to supporting early-career school administrators as they navigate the complexities of modern educational administration and instructional leadership.
Key Benefits of the Collaborative
The Extraordinary Educators Leadership Collaborative is designed to strengthen leadership and instructional practices among participating administrators. Program participants connect with peers from across the country to share strategies for creating supportive school communities.
Professional learning through the collaborative has addressed multiple critical areas of school administration, including:
- School culture development
- Data-informed instruction
- Building learning partnerships
- Educator wellness initiatives
- Celebrating student and teacher success
Kelly Sia, chief executive officer at Curriculum Associates, noted the impact of the selected administrators. “These 15 leaders are already making a meaningful difference in their school communities, from strengthening school culture and empowering teachers to using data in ways that improve instruction and close learning gaps,” Sia stated.
Context and Background
Curriculum Associates operates on a large national scale, supporting more than 17 million students and one million educators. Programs like i-Ready and Ready provide foundational diagnostic and instructional tools used across numerous school districts.
Building upon this broad footprint, the EELC was established to provide targeted professional support to administrators. Now in its fourth year, the initiative recognizes that effective school leadership extends beyond classroom instruction to encompass holistic community building and data literacy.
Class of 2027 Roster
The 15 school leaders selected for the Class of 2027 span 12 states and bring diverse local perspectives to the national collaborative:
- Dawn Batts (Alabama)
- Brooke Dunham (Alabama)
- Annie Diaz (Alabama)
- Julie Alderete (California)
- Jamie Lockwood (Colorado)
- Adam Kohn (Colorado)
- Jaimie Fisco (Connecticut)
- Lisa Newman (Florida)
- Crystal Beach (Georgia)
- Thomas Houlihan (Illinois)
- Taneka L. Lett (Mississippi)
- Lisa Wilson (New Mexico)
- Brittany Mairena (Tennessee)
- Heather Fitzgibbons (Vermont)
- Karrie Lowe (West Virginia)
Business and Sector Implications
Educational technology providers increasingly recognize that software adoption relies heavily on administrative leadership quality. By fostering leadership communities, companies like Curriculum Associates help build administrative capacity, which in turn supports long-term engagement with core instructional platforms like i-Ready and Ready.
Professional development initiatives that focus on data-informed instruction and educator wellness address critical retention and performance metrics within school districts. As districts nationwide face ongoing challenges related to educator wellness and learning recovery, structured peer networks offer practical value for early-career principals.
Limitations and Scope
The Extraordinary Educators Leadership Collaborative is limited in size, accepting 15 school leaders annually for this specific cohort cycle. Participation is tied to educators who have experience using Curriculum Associates’ proprietary i-Ready and/or Ready programs, meaning the professional learning community is restricted to current users of these specific educational tools rather than open to the entire national pool of administrators.
What to Watch Next
As the Class of 2027 begins its programming for the 2026–2027 school year, observers will track how participants implement data-informed instructional strategies and educator wellness frameworks within their local districts. Future announcements from Curriculum Associates will likely detail further expansions of the EELC as the program matures beyond its fourth year.