Saved Schools

Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEAD)

Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEAD), nominated by The Learning Accelerator, TNTP and an anonymous organization, is a elementary/middle school in Bronx, New York that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

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Location Bronx, New York

Governance Public district school

Grades Prekindergarten, Elementary, Middle

Students 205

Locale Urban

Principal Alexa Sorden

Demographics

Percentage of students*

23%

English Learners

80%

Free/Reduced Lunch

19%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 23%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 1%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 61%

White 15%

2+ Races —

Why Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEAD) was nominated

One of the most inspirational schools we have visited which employs student-centered learning and has developed its own rigorous OER content based on regular student feedback.Serve a very high need student population with a strong equity and whole child lens. Also have thought tech integration to facilitate differentiation and feedback loops. The school does a lot with culture. SEL is intertwined in their DNA, LEAD implements an innovative model, RevX , which develops learners’ confidence to address real-world challenges using core academic, social-emotional, and professional skills and, in turn, supports learners in dismantling mindsets of inferiority or doubt that may stand in their way. LEAD has implemented a personalized learning model with a rigorous and culturally responsive teacher-created curriculum. The school is located in the South Bronx and earned Blue Ribbon status for its academic success in recent years. Students in grade levels that have begun the conversion to a personalized learning model engage in a stations-based flexible learning experiences, with voice and choice over what tasks they engage in, as well as how they demonstrate what they have learned. Technology is thoughtfully integrated into the school's model to provide students with learning experiences that would not be possible with traditional materials and/or to streamline work for teachers. Also core to the model at LEAD e is their focus on knowledge-based literacy instruction, cumulatively building knowledge and vocabulary through the rigorous and culturally relevant curriculum materials their team has sourced and developed internally. The approach provides students with substantial agency and responsibility, including leading classroom instruction for their peers for some content and learning modalities. Located in the most impoverished congressional district in the country, LEAD is equipping students its students with both the academic and soft skills they will need to successfully navigate the rest of their education and succeed in the job market of the 21st century.

Student experience design

The student experience empowers students to ask questions, research, and want to know more about a topic. The student experience should feel like an awakening where they willingly share their learning. Our learning environment is designed to help students feel valued, heard, and empowered to take charge of their learning—our learning environment encourages curiosity, collaboration, and respect, where every student’s voice matters. The goal is for the educator to act as a guide, fostering an atmosphere of trust and exploration. At the same time, students take the lead—engaging in hands-on activities, critical thinking, and meaningful conversations. Learning is a dynamic journey shaped by their interests, creativity, and unique strengths, making the classroom a space of discovery, confidence, and endless possibilities.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

AI-assisted Tutoring
Less than a year

Assessments For Deeper Learning
Less than a year

Career Prep And Work-based Learning
1-2 years

Student-led Conferences
1-2 years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Community And Business Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Competency Framework

Culturally Responsive Practices

Interdisciplinary

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Place-based Learning

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Social Justice Focus

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Increase student agency

Models Implemented

Ages 3-12

IB Primary Years Programme

Date Updated: 4/1/2025

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.