Square Pizza Podcast

The Square Pizza podcast focuses on the intersection of education, innovation, and diversity. We host and interview leaders doing incredible work around the country to ensure all students have access to an equitable education. The Square Pizza podcast is hosted by SchermCo, a social-impact implementation firm that offers strategic implementation and project management services to schools and education-focused organizations across the country.

Welcome back to another episode of the #squarepizzapod. This week, Greg is in conversation with Alejandro Gibes de Gac, CEO & Founder, of Springboard Collaborative. Springboard closes the literacy gap by closing the gap between home and school.

In this episode:

FELA Methodology

• 6 basic steps of FELA methodology
• Importance of setting a winnable goal within 5 to 10 weeks
• Three cycles of FELA recommended over a year

Springboard Program

• Aim to close the literacy gap between home and school
• Weekly workshops as the secret sauce to equip families to support learning at home
• Parents delivering 25 hours of one-on-one tutoring at home for every hour that a teacher leads a workshop

Challenges in Education Sector

• The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on marginalized learners
• Engaging families in at-home learning is critical for learning recovery
• Company transitioning towards a performance culture and accountability
• Clear definition and standardization of work

Structural Changes

• Springboard and Paloma creating an independent entity as a public benefit corporation
• Shared vision of making parent-teacher collaboration standard practice in education
• Relationship and optimization of synergies to bring the vision to life