Shannon K. Buerk

Founder & CEO, engage2learn

 
 

Shannon Buerk has emerged as an industry thought leader of organizational culture, helping educators to utilize the tools of performance-based professional coaching and intentional design to elevate the performance of public school districts nationwide. Passionate about equity of the learner experience, Shannon believes that neighborhood schools are the heart of a free, thriving society, and she is committed to ensuring that they are the first choice for all families. With 28 years of K-12 experience, Shannon has led a thriving organization since 2011 that has partnered with 225 school districts–impacting 2.3 million public education students to date. In 2022, Shannon also wrote and published her first book, Connect the Dots: Utilize Education Intelligence to Accelerate Growth, Retain Talent, and Optimize Outcomes.

The recipient of local, national, and international awards, including…

2017 Gold Stevie Awards logo

Female Executive of the Year

2018 Gold Stevie Awards logo

Most Innovative Women in Education for Technology

2018 gba silver logo

Female Executive of the Year

the state of texas governor logo

Texas Small Business Award

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Connect the Dots

Utilize Education Intelligence to Accelerate Growth, Retain Talent, and Optimize Outcomes

By: Shannon K. Buerk
Award-winning founder & CEO of engage2learn

“Today, more than ever, neighborhood public schools are the heartbeat of thriving communities. Leaders who collaborate, clarify, and coach will be the architects of future-proof public school systems.”

- Shannon K. Buerk

What Shannon has to say!

Shannon’s Thought Leadership Articles

White Papers Authored by Shannon Buerk

  • Best Practices Lead to Achievement: The outline of the e2L 12 Life Ready Best Practices ©, curated from the expansive research on instructional practices that impact student achievement combined with reports on the skills that today’s students need for college, career, and life readiness.
  • Creating Equity by Closing the Learner Experience GapPervasive gaps for students of poverty are manifested as lower academic achievement at best and in what has been termed the “school-to-prison pipeline” at worst; yet, two, urban districts work toward equity of experience to ensure mastery of Life Ready Skills.
  • e2L Strategic Vision MethodologyThe research base for e2L Strategic Vision methodology includes organizational culture gurus, thought leaders on strategic planning, and our own experience with over 200 districts. The methodology is grounded in backwards design, design thinking and culture-based change management.
  • Fixing the Leaky Pipeline: How to Retain Teachers Through Talent TransformationEvery new hire costs districts $5,000 – $20,000. Re-allocating the lost dollars of replacement costs toward coaching and retaining teachers already in the system is a win-win.
  • The Craft of Culture-Focused Leadership: 5 Levers + 3 Skills: What if the reason decades of reform, including billions of taxpayer dollars spent on professional learning, technology, resources, and programs have not created a sustainable solution is because these solutions are answers to the wrong type of problem?

Keynotes

Below are examples of Shannon’s keynote topics as well as the associations where she is an annual presenter.

Keynote Topics:

  • The Craft of Culture-Focused Leadership: Change-management through adaptive solutions in public education using the design, alignment, and application of 5 Culture Catalysts.
  • The Four Futures: How to plan for and thrive in the ever-changing context while building a culture of agility.
  • Education Systems Design: Design Thinking processes for developing a systemic culture shift in public school districts that pervade all departments and organizational levels through Cultural Tenets, Strategic Vision, and Learning Innovation Framework design.
  • Culture of Coaching; The impact of professional coaching based upon contemporary, academic research and evidence-based data compiled from e2l’s extensive experience
  • Leadership Retreats and “Think Tanks,” such as the Future Ready Superintendents Institute and executive-level coaching for superintendents, Board of Trustee members, and cabinet-level educators.

Key Associations:

  • The School Superintendents Association (AASA)
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
  • Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS)
  • Mexican Association of School Boards (MASBA)
  • Texas Association of School Administrators / Texas Association of School Boards (TASA/TASB)
  • Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-urban Schools (TAS / MUS)
  • Texas Alliance of Black School Educators (TABSE)
  • The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
  • The Texas K-12 CTO Council

“The current culture exists by either default or design depending on whether the leader is intentional”

Request Speaking Engagement from Shannon

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