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Opportunity Culture

What is Opportunity Culture?

Opportunity Culture is an innovative, research-based staffing model that helps schools extend the reach of excellent teachers and improve student learning-without increasing costs. It is designed to create a culture of collaboration, leadership, and growth for both educators and students. 

Goals for Opportunity Culture:

  • Increase student achievement by providing more students with access to excellent teaching through teacher coaching
  • Develop teacher leaders and improve job satisfaction
  • Create sustainable career paths with higher pay and leadership roles
  • Build strong instructional teams and support structures
  • Retain effective educators by offering meaningful advancement opportunities 

What Opportunity Culture Looks like at LAMM:

  • Teachers work in teams, with regular planning and feedback 
  • Students benefit from more consistent support, smaller group instruction, and targeted interventions
  • Leaderships and coaching are embedded in the school day-not added on
  • Schools reallocate existing budgets to pay teacher leaders sustainably 

Why It Matters?

  • Student Learning: Research shows students taught by Opportunity Culture teams often make more than a year's worth of progress in one year
  • Teacher Development: Teacher receive weekly support and coaching, leading to stronger instruction and career satisfaction 
  •  Equity: More students gain access to high-quality teaching and consistent support. 

 

 

Role of a Reach Associate: 

  • Collaborative with MCLs to support small group of students
  • Often newer teachers or paraprofessionals gaining classroom experience 

 

BRITTANY WRIGHT 

REACH ASSOCIATE 

brittany.wright@wacoisd.org

SADIE SWAIN

REACH ASSOCIATE 

sadie.swain@wacoisd.org

Role of a Multi-Classroom Leader (MCL):

  • Excellent teachers who lead small teams of teachers
  • Provide coaching, modeling, and co-teaching
  • Responsible for the learning outcomes of all students on their team
  • Receive higher pay for their leadership

MEGAN BARRAGAN 

MCL II

PRIMARY-2ND GRADE

megan.barragan@wacoisd.org

ALISON DAVIS

MCL II

PRIMARY-2ND GRADE

alison.davis@wacoisd.org

SHERRY BAGBY

MCL I

3RD-4TH GRADE

sherry.bagby@wacoisd.org

KIERSTEN SHAFER

MCL I

ELAR 5TH-8TH GRADE

kiersten.shafer@wacoisd.org