StriveTogether Honors Cleveland Academy of Leadership for Driving Better Outcomes for Students, Families
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — StriveTogether honored the Cleveland Academy of Leadership team during its 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening, celebrating their dedication to driving better and more equitable outcomes for youth and families.
StriveTogether presented the Cheryl Broadnax Award for Innovation and Results to the Cleveland Academy of Leadership. Through the team’s collaborative leadership, Cleveland Academy has become one of South Carolina’s highest-performing schools. The team has achieved significant academic progress for students, particularly those historically furthest from opportunity.
The award was presented to Cleveland Principal Dr. Marquice Clark, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Alanda Posey, and Instructional Coach Shiree Posey.
“With the community at our back and the tools of continuous improvement in hand, we’ve been able to significantly enhance learning outcomes for the children at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership, despite the challenges of high poverty, high student mobility, and high absenteeism,” said Dr. Clark. “This award, in Cheryl’s honor, is a testament not only to her enduring legacy but to the power of collaboration and resilience in the face of adversity. Her spirit continues to guide us, and through our collective efforts, we are ensuring that her vision for just, transformative education lives on.”
Since 2018, Cleveland Academy has increased reading proficiency for third, fourth and fifth graders by as much as 40 percentage points, with math proficiency doubling and tripling. Their team focuses on innovative practices that strengthen academic outcomes and deepen community and family engagement.
The team’s success in transforming the school is a direct result of their use of continuous improvement methods to respond to students’ unique needs and amplify their potential. With the support of Spartanburg Academic Movement, the Cleveland Academy team continues to lead the way in applying continuous improvement principles, both within the school and across the broader Spartanburg County community.
Their collaborative leadership and unwavering belief in every student’s ability to succeed embody the spirit of this award. The Cheryl Broadnax Award for Innovation and Results honors the legacy of Cheryl Broadnax, who was instrumental in training Cleveland Academy of Leadership staff in continuous improvement methods. The award recognizes a school district administrator(s) who creates continuous and innovative improvement solutions for better student outcomes, pushing the boundaries within systems and refusing to accept the status quo. The award recognizes administrators who use data to effectively get better results for students and those who partner within the StriveTogether network community to champion the work.
During the annual convening, StriveTogether also recognized Bill Crim, president and CEO of Utah’s Promise, with the Bill Henningsgaard Cradle to Career Champion Award for his visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to collective impact and equity.
KConnect was honored with the Nancy Zimpher Courage in Leadership Award for its innovative and inclusive approach to addressing systemic inequities in Kent County, Michigan. KConnect connects systems to dissolve long-standing barriers, ensuring every child and family has access to opportunities that lead to success.
About StriveTogether
StriveTogether is a national network of nearly 70 communities across 29 states and Washington, D.C. working to build a future where a child’s potential is not dictated by race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. The organization provides coaching, resources and rigorous approaches to create opportunities and eliminate inequities in education, housing and more. Together, the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network reaches 14 million youth.