Leadership Initiatives
School Leadership Initiative
In the fall of 2024, JPEF, in partnership with the Center for Children's Rights, launched an innovative Community of Practice (COP) aimed at transforming school leadership and promoting positive youth development across Duval County. Inspired by Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s seminal work, "The Four Pivots," this program will guide school leaders in adopting healing-centered leadership practices to create safe, supportive, and thriving educational environments.
School leaders participate in professional learning sessions and engage in hands-on activities to learn and implement restorative practices that address the traumas faced by students, teachers, and families. This holistic approach not only improves academic outcomes but also fosters a nurturing system of care for youth. The program prioritizes relationship building and trust within school communities, ensuring that all students receive the support and attention they need to thrive both academically and personally.
Fellowships
Edelman Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching
Duval County K-12 school teachers have a unique opportunity to enhance their professional growth through personalized development activities. This initiative allows educators to select and engage in professional development experiences tailored to their individual career aspirations. Elevate your teaching career by choosing the professional development activity that best suits your needs and goals. Find out more at www.edelmanfellowship.org
Fellowships
Wolfburg Fellowship
The newest iteration of this project has been a Youth Participatory Action Research Project, in which students and teachers in Duval County collectively work to answer a research question and the project is led by students themselves. This year, the research question was around the idea of social justice in schools. A team of four students and two teachers collected over 30 pieces of qualitative data, including a more widely disseminated survey where they asked questions around social justice in schools. Ultimately, the team found that instances of social injustice happen everywhere, that generally people viewed the issue as one of collective responsibility and some potential solutions are around uplifting student voice and creating the space for critical dialogue.
