Our Approach
Aligned closely with the St. Louis Community Foundation’s strategic plan, CFEL focuses on developing school leaders, driving innovation in schools and school systems, and fostering research and practitioner partnerships.
By strategically investing in these interconnected areas, we aim to catalyze and track student improvement across the St. Louis Region’s educational landscape.
Develop School Leaders
Through deep engagement, we work to develop the strengths of educators to become more effective and empowered leaders in and out of the classroom in order to drive better outcomes. Programs include a Principal’s Cohort Summer Fellowship (coming summer 2025!), discretionary funding for small scale implementation of innovative practices, and customizable professional development workshops.
Drive Innovation in School Systems
We partner with schools and districts to foster innovation in teaching and learning. Our holistic approach focuses on crafting supportive school cultures and environments that promote improved deeper learning. Programs include district-wide leaders fellowship, and the Transformational Leadership Initiative, a 3-year intensive collaboration with networks of schools.
Promote Research Practice Partnerships
We bring together education researchers and practitioners to conduct relevant and actionable research about our schools. This translates into an improved education ecosystem in our region, schools and for our leaders. Our primary partners in this work are the St. Louis Schools Collaborative and the St. Louis Research Practice Collaborative.