SGS was the leadership and development tool I'd been searching for since becoming an administrator. I always found it ironic that we give English teachers and Math teachers curriculum with tools, resources, and a road map, but that something similar for an instructional model for schools simply did not exist. Enter: Simply Great Schools! The Arc of the Year and its guiding principles, rubrics, coaching and meeting plans, and professional development sessions presents teachers and instructional leaders with a clear playbook to run for high-needs schools. 1st year teachers are thriving and 10 year vets are challenged and growing in ways they did not think possible. One teacher said "this is what I've been looking for since I finished my second year teaching." SGS is the most powerful and practical set of turn key tools and resources that I have ever encountered. Worth every penny. One added benefit that is likely not clearly listed in packages: participating in Doug and Riley's PD sessions as a learner provides access to two master facilitators who are modeling how to deliver excellent PD to adults. I have grown immensely in what I thought was an area of strength from simply taking notes on their facilitation style and moves.

Simply Great Schools has transformed how I see leadership. I use to be intimidated by the thought of live coaching, jumping in at the point of error and being on public display. After training with Doug and Riley, I am a fearless, more confident and impactful leader who is committed to doing what it takes to inspire and empower teams to work toward meaningful change. I AM A WOMAN TRANSFORMED!

As the Director of Human Resources & Talent for the Oconomowoc Area School District, and a former principal and district leader with LUMIN Schools in Milwaukee, I have seen firsthand the power of strong leadership in driving student and staff success. Simply Great Schools provided me with transformative leadership coaching that directly impacted student outcomes during my time at LUMIN Schools. Their guidance helped us implement data-driven instructional strategies that led to significant improvements in student achievement. Their professional development outline for school leaders provided us with a roadmap for intentionally navigating each season of the school year. Furthermore, Simply Great Schools equipped me with essential skills in coaching adults and leading critical conversations—skills that continue to shape my success in my current role. Their coaching gave me the confidence and strategies to navigate complex HR challenges, foster educator growth, attract and retain high-quality educators, and build a culture of continuous improvement. Simply Great Schools has been instrumental in my leadership journey, helping me drive meaningful change in the districts I have served.

My name is Brittany Greco and I'm the Elementary School Principal at Foundation Academy! Simply Great Schools helped me simplify what excellence looks like and supported the work we are doing to improve student outcomes. It gave me clarity on the coaching and development my deans and teachers need, making excellence feel attainable through the Arc of the Year. It also ensured alignment across our staff on expectations and how to achieve them. Simply Great Schools gave us the tools that we needed and the practice to put them into work. The best thing about working with Simply Great Schools was Riley! The knowledge, energy, and support were incredible. Having someone walk alongside me, truly invested in our kids, was inspiring.

I have had the privilege of working with Simply Great Schools (SGS) in two different schools, and I can confidently say that their impact has been transformative. Their strategic approach to school leadership, data-driven insights, and hands-on coaching have 10x’d my efficiency as a leader and my ability to drive meaningful results for students and staff. SGS provides a level of clarity and structure that allows leaders to focus on what truly matters — student achievement and school culture. Their systems streamline decision-making, enhance accountability, and ensure that every initiative is aligned with the school's mission and goals. The support and expertise they bring have been invaluable in helping me build stronger teams, execute with precision, and sustain long-term success. Simply put, SGS is a game-changer for school leaders looking to maximize their impact. I highly recommend them to any educational leader seeking to elevate their school’s performance.

The training and resources Simply Great Schools have provided this school year have helped improve the classroom environment and rigor of every classroom in my school. I have become a stronger leader as a result of the summer intensive trainings which helped me improve my leadership mindsets and skills as the instructional leader of my building. All of the scripted PD sessions, coaching meeting templates, and arc of the year rubrics have allowed myself and my Deans of Instruction more time to focus on live coaching in classrooms instead of creating materials. Their ongoing coaching has helped push me to identify the highest leverage action step to move my school forward. I am so appreciative of all the support they provided to help me become a better Principal which ultimately has led to increased student academic outcomes.

Working with Simply Great Schools transformed my first year as a principal from merely surviving to truly thriving. The professional development sessions provided me with the skills and confidence to navigate every aspect of leadership, from running effective coaching sessions to engaging in critical conversations with staff. Each session was not only engaging but also highly practical, equipping me with tangible tools and strategies to immediately apply in my school. Beyond the sessions, my school visits with my coach were invaluable, as they helped me get laser-focused on the most critical areas for growth, ensuring that every initiative and decision directly benefited our students. Simply Great Schools provided some of the best professional development I have ever experienced, giving me the resources and support to better serve my teachers, leaders, and students. If you’re looking for transformative professional development, you won’t regret working with Simply Great Schools!

Simply Great Schools has helped me as a leader follow through on my commitment to develop new and veteran staff. Having a clear path of development to share with staff in the summer has supported growth in our student and staff culture. Everyone has the same goals and is going after the same things. I've found that the feeling in the building closely aligns with how we are doing with Arc goals. The best thing about working with Simply Great Schools is having access to the plethora of resources. Just like students, not every instructor learns and grows the same. Having access to multiple resources and autonomy to move between arcs allows me as an instructional leader to meet teachers where they are. The way the arcs are designed creates a shared ownership over what we do and how we do it at school.

Simply Great Schools has helped me become an effective leader and instructional coach by giving me access to tools that have worked well for our students. The best thing about working with Simply Great Schools is the hands on in-person training and follow-up. I really enjoy how the Simply Great Schools team works in collaboration with schools to promote change and growth.

Simply Great Schools coaches make coaching feel both doable and exciting! Through video experience, practice, school observations, and feedback, they turns the chaos of education into a huge win. Thanks to their ARC tools and developments, I’ve felt truly successful this year.

Simply Great Schools has been a game-changer. Their coaching and data-driven strategies have helped me grow as a leader, refine how I support teachers, and make instructional changes that actually impact students. They’ve also given me the confidence to lead professional development and create a culture where both teachers and students keep growing.  Their commitment is to real, lasting change. They don’t just come in with quick fixes. Instead, they helped us build something sustainable. Because of their support, we’re not just improving instruction; we’re making sure every change we make moves the salt shaker for our kids in a meaningful way.

Simply Great Schools was a HUGE help to me as I continued my educational leadership journey. Having someone who has done the work guide my thinking from a school leader perspective has been the best coaching I have received anywhere. I, truly, valued the time I spent with Riley and Doug every time we met. 

I'm Stacey Luehring, the Principal of Saint Peter Immanuel in Milwaukee, and  I have been working with Simply Great Schools for 3 years. I have grown so much as a leader through my work with them. Our school culture has changed drastically in the best way over the last 3 years, data is improving year to year, we are meeting goals, our teachers are growing everyday and our students are growing academically more and more everyday. Our school is a place that teachers, students and families want to be! The support received from Simply Great Schools is unmatched. Goals are clear, the gift of feedback is given consistently and everything is centered on the success of our students while helping teachers and leaders reach their full potential!

My name is Katie Evins and I am the interim principal at HOPE Caritas. I would recommend Simply Great Schools to help all schools in the Milwaukee area. The thing that I loved about Simply Great Schools is that Doug and Riley are awesome and talented trainers. They both train you on a level where you feel more confident about yourself, which helps you to believe that all things are possible. Last but not least, you actually see the results and growth with admin, staff, and students.

My name is Mrs. Larson, and I am one of the Assistant Principals at Carmen South Middle School. I have had the privilege of working with Simply Great Schools for the past two years. I have been in my network for 7 years, and before our work with Simply Great Schools, it felt as though our coaching model wasn't as impactful as it could have been. It was changing year to year and seemed like something we were checking off the list of "to-dos" instead of truly investing in. When I got my training through Simply Great Schools, I finally had complete clarity on what coaching should look, sound, and feel like. I saw measurable goals that were motivating to teachers AND leaders. There is a continuity throughout the program that allows a school to take a step back and see how we are functioning as a whole. Riley and Doug keep student needs and student success at the forefront of everything they do, and they genuinely believe in top-down accountability. The best thing about working with Simply Great Schools is the access to resources that take the preparation lift off of leaders. As an instructional coach, once I had been trained on how to use the Arc tools, I could easily run with it without having to create. Anyone who works in education knows that there are never enough hours in the day to complete everything we want. Simply Great Schools provides SO many resources, and so, as a leader, I can focus on implementation instead of creation. I would recommend Simply Great Schools to any network across the country, and I can say wholeheartedly, that our students and staff have greatly benefited from our networks investment in Doug and Riley.