The GENIUS Initiative

The GENIUS Initiative—Genuine Empathy Nurturing Intellect for Underserved Students—is part of CA Statewide System of Support.

The GENIUS Initiative (funded by the Equity Lead Grant) provides targeted support to Equity Multiplier schools and other schools seeking to build equitable systems and practices for their most marginalized student groups.

The GENIUS Initiative operates in the following ways:

1. Providing Tier I Professional Learning with a focus on the 4 principles of the Supporting the African American Learner research which are free and open to all.
2. Providing Communities of Practice for educators and leaders to collaborate on addressing equity challenges and co-creating solutions. While participation is open to interested LEAs, priority is given to schools and districts receiving Equity Multiplier funding.
3. Providing coaching for school and district leaders with a focus on capacity development and/or implementation of equity focused systems and practices.
4. There is also the GENIUS Network: This is a set of 30 schools statewide where site leadership and district leadership have committed to participating in a 3 year learning and development journey with the Equity Leads with a focus on applying the Supporting the African American Learner research framework to meet the needs of their most marginalized student groups.

The GENIUS Initiative offers a tiered continuum of support to address systemic inequities:

• Universal Level: Statewide professional learning sessions with equity-focused educational experts.
• Supplemental Level: Local and Statewide Communities of Practice and shared learning.
• Intensified Level: Leadership coaching and technical assistance tailored to district and site needs.

Equity Multiplier sites receive priority access to all levels of support to ensure resources are directed where they are most needed.

The GENIUS Initiative offerings are different because:

1. There is no cost for our offerings
2. We take participants on a learning journey. We create an ecosystem that allows them to live the learning and engage the work from various perspectives – student, teacher, leader, family- as we walk hand and hand with them in partnership.
3. We bridge the knowing/doing gap by providing intentional ways to implement long term, sustainable solutions that meet the specific needs of our leaders.
4. We ensure that participants are learning from experts who lead in their field focused on equity and inclusion such as Dr. Tyrone Howard, Dr. Bettina Love, Dr. Niki Elliot to name a few. Also each County Office of Education team is led by expert practitioners.
5. The collaboration between the Kings County Office of Education, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Sonoma County Office of Education, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools ensures that we have our finger on the pulse of cutting edge research and learning across the state.

Equity Multiplier schools and districts can begin the process by completing the Statement of Interest form provided by Kings County Office of Education, Los Angeles County Office of Education, or Sonoma County Office of Education. This form helps us understand your needs, goals, and areas of focus so we can match you with the most relevant supports, whether that’s professional learning, a GENIUS Network Community of Practice, or individualized coaching.

Superintendents, Principals, Assistant Principals, campus administrators, Directors, Instructional and Counseling team leaders and any and all equity-focused roles

1. Sign Up
2. Show up to all of the dates for your event
3. Lean in and apply the learning
4. Reach out for assistance or support as needed
5. CHANGE THE LIVES OF STUDENTS!

All educators can participate in the GENIUS Initiative professional learning experiences at no cost.

The GENIUS Tier 1 Events occur a minimum of three times per year.

The three Tiers of the GENIUS Network are:

1. GENIUS Freedom Dreaming Event (occurs three times per year)
2. Community of Practice Series (ongoing where participants meet 4-6 times per year)
3. Technical Assistance (where we provide specialized intensive support for leaders)

Leaders will have the opportunity to select the Community of Practice that best meets their school/district needs.

Additionally, GENIUS Tier I events offer educators the opportunity to take a diagnostic inventory to determine their areas of need for professional learning and ensure that the work in the selected CoP will be in alignment with their school/district needs.

We welcome all school leaders, districts and charter schools/CMOs even if you’re not an equity multiplier school.

For Northern California: genius@scoe.org

For Central California: genius@kingscoe.org

For Southern California: genius@lacoe.edu

Please note that all posted GENIUS events are open to educators from anywhere in the state.