University of Washington
Read the proposal that we shared with the University of Washington, one of the world’s leading public universities, to execute Bonds of Union’s vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
Regional Focus | ohio river valley
We tailor our strategies to meet the unique needs of specific regions, driving growth and creating lasting impact through local expertise and strong community collaboration.
Bonds of Union was focused on improving outcomes for the bottom 20% of achievers in our highest-need public schools in the Ohio Valley Region. We set out to transform the traditional bell-curve the resemble the image (below):
We built a cross-sector team of dedicated individuals to come together around this specific problem and develop a transformative, scalable solution.
FAMILY | HOLISTIC, INDIVIDUALIZED, LONG-TERM, AND INTENSIVE SUPPORT
COMMUNITY | SOCIAL CAPITAL
Academic | 1:1 ACCELERATED LEARNING
1:1 Accelerate Learning is a live, online learning initiative that reimagines the paradigm of teaching and learning by harnessing the power of education technology to dramatically improve outcomes among low-performing students.
Read the proposal that we shared with the University of Washington, one of the world’s leading public universities, to execute Bonds of Union’s vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
Learn about how we are leveraging our vision to support ASU, a leader in higher education innovation, as it implements a pioneering model for teaching and learning and empowers students and faculty to solve complex, interdisciplinary challenges.
Learn about our collaboration with the University of Cincinnati in Ascend, our initial pilot initiative and how we leveraged our broader vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
We build cross-sector teams in regions across the country that generate breakthrough innovations to solve critical challenges. Learn more about our innovative approach and process.
We aim to build a national R&D infrastructure across all regions of the U.S. to solve the challenges that threaten the continued health and prosperity of our democratic republic.
Alula has dedicated his life to renewing hope and prosperity in marginalized communities in the U.S. Prior to founding Bonds of Union, Alula served as Director of Special Initiatives and Special Assistant in the Office of Innovation & Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, Alula helped to oversee the design and implementation of competitive programs such as the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) and Promise Neighborhoods, and closely advised the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Innovation & Improvement on matters of policy and R&D. Previously, he was the Founder and Executive Director of the UW Dream Project, a Seattle-based college access and retention program for low-income and first-generation high school students. Alula received a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science from the University of Washington, an MPhil in Politics, Development, and Democratic Education from the University of Cambridge, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Deborah is passionate about increasing opportunity and improving quality of life in low-income communities, both in her hometown of Cincinnati and throughout disadvantaged regions of our country. She believes strongly in the power of holistic, family-centered services to empower households and uplift neighborhoods. Deborah has previously served as a family case manager and youth advocate for low-income families in permanent supportive housing, an educational advocate for youth with involvement in the juvenile justice system, and an urban policy analyst focused on community development and K-12 education. She received a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University, an M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy from Oxford University, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Jessica’s respect for educators runs deep. Her passion for adult learning developed from her desire to serve and empower teachers and leaders to create caring, rigorous classrooms. She believes in the potential of all kids and is deeply driven toward ensuring that every child receives a high-quality, fulfilling, and fruitful education. Jessica taught grades K-2 for Aspire Public Schools in Oakland, CA, before becoming Lead Instructional Coach for Aspire’s four regions. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of Programming for the Ed. Institute at Success Academies, where she worked to improve teacher training and curriculum. Jessica received her B.A. in Developmental Psychology and M.A. in Elementary Education from Stanford University.
Jenna experienced firsthand the power and necessity of teaching social-emotional learning alongside academic skills in her six years as a K-2 teacher in Palo Alto, California. Subsequently, she brought this strong belief in teaching the whole child to her role as a K-4 math specialist. Over the course of four years in this role, she developed a school-wide math curriculum that not only emphasized deep conceptual understanding, but that also fostered “habits of mind” such as perseverance, risk-taking, and flexible thinking. Jenna received her B.A. in American Studies and M.A. in Elementary Education from Stanford University.
Approach
Process
R&D Engine
Ascend Initiative
Regional Efforts
Ohio valley Pilot
Higher Education
Arizona State University
University of Cincinnati
University of Washington
Insights