‘U’ Circles in 2026-2027
We are excited that the new school year is upon us because that means our ‘U’ Circles are starting up again, and there are some exciting changes happening!
Academy Coach Circle – New Ford NGL Facilitator
After launching the Academy Coach Circle and seven years of leadership, Beth Grzelak is stepping down as the Ford NGL facilitator. Alongside practitioner co-facilitators, Beth created a meaningful space for Academy Coaches to connect, learn from one another, wrestle with challenges, and share what’s working in their communities. Her leadership has helped shape the Circle into what it is today. Thank you, Beth!
We’re excited to welcome Terri Jackley as the new Ford NGL facilitator. Terri has served as a Ford NGL Community Coach for the past four years. Previously, she was the inaugural Academy Coach at J.I. Case High School and later the Academies of Racine Coordinator in Racine, Wisconsin.
Terri and Elizabeth Duehr, the Circle’s current practitioner co-facilitator, look forward to a great year of learning alongside Academy Coaches from across the network. Stay tuned for this year’s Meet-Up topics, and watch for a calendar invitation to our first Circle Meet-Up on Thursday, September 17 | 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 10 a.m. MT / 9 a.m. PT.
If you would like to join the Academy Coach Circle, please reach out to [email protected] to learn more.
Partnership Director Circle – Ready to Get Started!
The network’s Partnership Directors, led by Ford NGL facilitator and Powerful Partnerships coach, Paula Chaon, are ready to get started. They set their topics for exploration and discussion at the last Circle Meet-Up of the 2025-2026 school year.
| Date | Topic – Deep Dive |
| Sept. 10, 2026 12-1:15 pm ET | Experiential Learning / Job Shadows |
| Nov. 12 , 202612-1:15pm ET | Teaching Through the Lens |
| Jan. 14, 202712-1:15 pm ET | Partnership Systems |
| March 11, 202712-1:15 pm ET | Measuring Impact |
| May 13, 202712-1:15 pm ET | Communication & Awareness |
Partnership Directors should already have calendar invites for your Circle Meet-Ups, so please let Paula Chaon ([email protected]) know if you believe you should have received them but did not.
If you would like to join the Partnership Directors Circle, please reach out to Paula Chaon at [email protected] to learn more.
Transformation Leadership Circle – New Circle
We are excited to introduce the 2026–2027 Community Transformation Leadership Circle, a new Lunch & Learn series designed to support Phase 4 and Phase 5 communities as they strengthen and sustain Community Connected transformation.
This new Circle reflects an important evolution in our work. While our previous District Transformation Leaders Circle has been archived for future reference, we’ve expanded the experience to better support the collaborative leadership teams needed to drive lasting system-level change.
We encourage communities to participate as a team, including:
• District Transformation Leaders
• Curriculum & Instruction Leaders
• Principal Supervisors
• Other district and system leaders supporting Community Connected transformation
Together, teams will strengthen the systems, structures, and practices that sustain Community Connected work over time.
2026–2027 Community Transformation Leadership Circle Schedule
All sessions will be held from 12:00–1:00 PM Eastern.
- November 20, 2026 — Plan
- January 29, 2027 — Implement
- March 19, 2027 — Monitor
- April 30, 2027 — Evaluate & Refine
Each session builds upon a continuous improvement cycle while providing dedicated team time to apply the learning directly to your district’s work.
What Your Team Will Gain
- A clear focus aligned to the Ford NGL Sustainability Indicators
- Documented systems and processes to guide implementation
- Stronger alignment across district, school, and community leadership
- A repeatable continuous improvement process
- Increased capacity to sustain and scale Community Connected transformation
We’re also pleased to welcome Jennifer McFarlane, Assistant Superintendent of Romeo Community Schools, who will co-facilitate this year’s Circle and share practical insights from her community’s transformation journey.
If you have any questions about the Community Transformation Leadership Circle reach out to Lisa Oleski, Ford NGL Community Coach & K–12 Systems Lead at [email protected].
