In this week's episode, I catch up with my good friend Shira Woolf Cohen, co-founder of Innovageous, seasoned educator, and author of the new book, "Leading Future-Focused Schools". Drawing from her extensive experience as a teacher and principal, Shira shares powerful insights on why student engagement and career readiness can’t wait, how school leaders can spark meaningful change, and practical strategies to integrate career development across K–12 classrooms. We also discuss real stories from schools already leading this transformative shift and explore her journey building Innovageous to help schools innovate with equity at the center.
To learn more about Shira's work, you can visit the Innovageous website at innovageous.com or follow her on Instagram (@shirawc) and LinkedIn.
BIO: Shira Woolf Cohen is a founding partner at Innovageous, an education consulting group focused on ensuring continuity of learning and inclusive opportunities for all children by building the capacity of educators, schools, and organizations to develop innovative and courageous solutions in education. In this role, Shira has served approximately 30 schools and organizations and more than 1,000 leaders and educators by analyzing educational landscapes, providing professional learning and coaching, and facilitating program and systems planning.Prior to founding Innovageous, Shira served as the principal of New Foundations Charter School (2014-2020). Under her leadership, New Foundations earned recognition as the top-performing charter school in Philadelphia in 2015. Shira is the recipient of the G. Bernard Gill Award for Urban Service-Learning Leadership.Shira also serves as an adjunct instructor and university supervisor for aspiring teachers and leaders at Holy Family University and the University of Phoenix, as Board Chair for the National Youth Leadership Council, and as the facilitator for the National Youth Leadership Council’s Certificate in Service-Learning Instructional Leadership program. Shira is an active member of the Catalyst:Ed network, and serves as the facilitator of the nationwide School Reimagining provider resource group. She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut.
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