Distinguished New Leaders

Tatiana Epanchin

New Leader, Cohort 2
Principal
Monarch Academy
Oakland, California

"The highlight of my New Leaders training experience was getting in! Understanding how selective it is, New Leaders saw something in me that I didn't even know was there."

Monarch Academy

Single most improved school in the state of California
Increase in proficiency scores from 51% to 73% in math and from 29% to 45% in ELA, a 39-percentage point increase across the two subjects
U.S. Department of Education Title 1 Distinguished School Award

Tatiana faced major stumbling blocks on the road to success for Monarch Academy. Some teachers were just going through the motions, with no high expectations for students and there was not enough family support, a key component to a student's overall academic growth and development. Coming into such a volatile environment, Tatiana had her work cut out for her on day one, but with the skills and knowledge she acquired as a New Leader, she was up for the challenge.

She cites her New Leaders training as essential to breaking the barriers to success at her school. "I found the week-long sessions through the residency year invaluable, and it was meaningful to rekindle relationships with other New Leaders. The Bay Area group and national cohort provided a wealth of knowledge and expertise," Tatiana said. The Foundations Institute was a high point of her training, but she also stresses the importance of networking with other principals who also lead urban public schools facing similar challenges.

As a teacher, Tatiana believed all students could learn, but with no theory to back it up, she did not feel secure presenting the argument to unconvinced fellow teachers. During her New Leaders training, she was excited to learn how to use data to prove her case that every student can achieve academic success. By understanding and analyzing data on student performance and achievement, she was more confident and purposeful with her teaching staff, moving them toward regular data meetings where teachers work together to compare best practices.

"The achievement I’m most proud of is our skyrocketing increase in achievement scores, debunking the myth that children of color can't achieve," she explained. For the 2006-2007 academic year, Monarch Academy received the Title 1 Distinguished School Award and was named the single most improved school in the state of California.

Though she is well aware of the need to constantly maintain the momentum in her school and keep teachers and parents engaged, her leadership has inspired staff and students with a 'can-do' spirit the school has never seen. "New Leaders keeps finding people with the energy and stamina to do the work," Tatiana said. "Ideally, what I’m doing here will impact other schools."

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