Bright Spots


Chris Barba

Recent Posts

Shifting Mindsets in CUSD

By Chris Barba
Mar 4, 2020

Shifting Mindsets in CUSD

Our continued engagement with the Chester Upland School District continues to produce remarkable gains in academic achievement, student engagement, parental engagement, and school environment. Each breakthrough in these areas enables our collaborators at Toby Farms and STEM Academy to fulfill on their missions to transform education for their students. Underpinning these gains is a fundamental shift in thinking around purpose and possibility.

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Teachers Focus on Moving Students Up Two Grade Levels in Reading and Math

By Chris Barba
May 6, 2019

Teachers Focus on Moving Students Up Two Grade Levels in Reading and Math

When educators think and collaborate in new ways, the life of a student can change forever. In February, we launched the Breakthrough Mindset Curriculum with teachers and staff at Toby Farms Middle School. The curriculum uses evidenced-based approaches to build mindsets that promote new levels of student success. Specifically, it equips educators with leadership competencies that help them build a culture of collaboration and trust, drive more effective instruction, and ultimately impact student learning.

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The World is Getting Better

By Chris Barba
Jan 3, 2019

The World is Getting Better

More than ever, we can easily become consumed in what’s not working that we miss what is working. Taking stock of our collective wins and accomplishments is a powerful practice because it changes the way people think—about progress, about aspirations, or simply about the future looking different. Here are five bright spots that could change your perspective on today’s state of affairs:

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Building a Mindset for Academic Achievement

By Chris Barba
Dec 14, 2018

Building a Mindset for Academic Achievement

There are two significant factors at the heart of a student's success—structural and psychological factors. Structural factors include socioeconomic background, access to resources, and strength of community institutions. Psychological factors include beliefs about individual and collective abilities, expectations for success, and perceptions about institutions and the communities they reside in.

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