
Our goal: Increase the concentration of expert educators in K-9 so that more children have access to educators who empower them to reach their full potential.
Too many students will not experience the needed concentration of expert teachers who are able to provide the rigorous, on grade-level instruction needed to help close academic gaps.
We know teachers are the most important school factor driving student outcomes. Yet they often work in systems that lack the resources needed to help them unlock student success and potential. Our Exceptional Educators portfolio funds direct impact and ecosystem grantees that empower K-9 teachers by increasing their access to strong school leadership and ongoing professional learning that is aligned to high-quality instructional materials and improves teacher practice and student outcomes.
Our Learnings
Teachers are the biggest within-school factor impacting student achievement.
Professional learning is an effective way to improve teacher performance, especially when it includes a focus on leadership-enabled collaborative learning and high-quality instructional material.
In the right roles and in supportive environments, teachers can achieve extraordinary results.
Teacher social capital, more than teacher experience, predicts student achievement gains.
Demand for professional learning remains high during the pandemic.
High-quality instructional materials remain critically important to student achievement, and provided important support in the rapid transition to online learning.
School leadership is a necessary condition for effective instruction.
Grantee Spotlight
Learn more about some of the work funded by the Exceptional Educators portfolio.

Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture
Scaling an innovative professional learning and staffing model across America’s public schools.

Alder Graduate School of Education
Expanding the teacher pipeline and increasing teacher effectiveness through residency models.
Our Questions
What are the most impactful school leadership practices for school culture, teacher practice, and student learning?
What are the most influential factors in the effectiveness of professional learning?
How important are high-quality instructional materials for students in a hybrid learning model?
What are the most effective innovative staffing practices and how do they impact student outcomes?