STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Dr. Lesley Leach, Dean of the College of Education at Tarleton State University, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through the national nonprofit organization Deans for Impact (DFI).
The Impact Academy fellowship was developed by DFI to empower dean-level leaders with the skills, knowledge and strategies to prioritize instructional quality, navigate their teams through continuous change and advocate for innovative and sustainable practices in educator preparation.
Dr. Leach is one of 18 chosen for their commitment to improving the development of young educators. These fellows lead programs designed to strengthen pipelines of high-quality teachers who can honor and nurture the brilliance of all students, serving 11 U.S. states and a wide range of geographic and institutional contexts.
“I am honored to be selected for the Deans for Impact Academy Fellowship and to join a community of forward-thinking deans who are deeply committed to strengthening educator preparation,” said Dr. Leach. “I look forward to learning from and collaborating with this remarkable group as we work together to improve outcomes for future teachers and the students they will serve.”
Fellows will participate in monthly learning sessions, receive one-on-one coaching from seasoned leaders and engage in peer consultancies to address field-facing challenges in real time. They will hone their ability to engage faculty, staff, communities and pre-K through 12th-grade partners in a shared vision for transformative change, grounded in a deep scientific understanding about how students learn.
“Educator-preparation leaders play a critical role in shaping how new teachers are set up for long-term success,” said Valerie Sakimura, Executive Director of DFI. “From prioritizing instructional improvement in their programs, to supporting their teams to meet the evolving needs of schools and communities, to advocating for innovative and sustainable practices, they carry an immense responsibility in shaping the future of teaching and learning. With this milestone cohort, we look forward to helping them grow as change agents while staying grounded in instructional quality and student impact.”
To learn more about this year’s Impact Academy cohort, visit: https://www.deansforimpact.org/impact-academy-cohort10.
About Deans for Impact (DFI)
DFI is a national nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher. DFI supports educator-preparation programs to bring the science of learning into teaching practice; partners with policymakers to ensure pathways into teaching are accessible, practice-based, and focused on instruction; and equips leaders with the tools to address today’s most pressing challenges in educator preparation. Guided by principles of learning science, DFI aims to help aspiring and early-career teachers create rigorous and inclusive classrooms where all children thrive. For more information, visit deansforimpact.org.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.