Educational leaders representing public, charter, and private schools from across the state gathered at the University of Florida on September 17-18 for the inaugural convening of the Florida K–12 Leadership Collaborative, a new initiative designed to strengthen relationships across educational sectors and foster meaningful dialogue around issues affecting Florida’s students and schools. The Collaborative is an initiative that brings together leaders from diverse educational settings to develop practical insights and solutions that support student success statewide.
The Collaborative was developed and led by faculty in the University of Florida’s Educational Leadership and Policy program, under the leadership of Dr. Tuuli Robinson. Program faculty designed the convening to create space for thoughtful discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing Florida’s education system.
A central focus of the September convening was a discussion of student success and how it is defined, measured, and supported across educational settings. Participants engaged in conversations about the strengths and limitations of traditional accountability measures and explored broader indicators of student success used in schools and districts throughout Florida. The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding student success as a multidimensional concept that includes academic achievement while also recognizing the diverse ways schools support students’ growth and preparation for future success.
Throughout the convening, participants examined how leaders from different sectors approach common challenges and shared perspectives on building learning environments that help students thrive. The Collaborative’s cross-sector structure encourages participants to learn from one another, identify shared priorities, and develop stronger professional relationships that can support ongoing collaboration beyond the convening itself.
“The goal of this inaugural event was to get people in the room, get them talking, and see if there are ways that we can start developing common understanding and agreements – really focusing on that collective work as we think about students’ success across educational setting,” said Dr. Robinson. “Little did I know that the voices in the room would create such momentum and really help us see that this kind of collaborative work is not just interesting, but also essential if we want to move forward with innovative solutions to student success in Florida.”
The September meeting marked the launch of the Collaborative’s yearlong engagement model, which includes additional in-person and virtual sessions designed to move beyond one-time conversations toward sustained learning, relationship building, and collaborative problem-solving. The initiative reflects the Educational Leadership and Policy program’s commitment to preparing and supporting educational leaders who can navigate an increasingly complex educational landscape while keeping student success at the center of their work.
About the Florida K–12 Leadership Collaborative
The Florida K–12 Leadership Collaborative is a University of Florida initiative that brings together leaders from public, charter, and private education sectors to foster dialogue, strengthen professional relationships, and generate actionable solutions that advance student success statewide. The yearlong Collaborative includes in-person convenings, virtual sessions, and opportunities for participants to engage in structured discussions on issues affecting Florida’s educational future. For more information, please visit the website: https://education.ufl.edu/k12-collaborative/