At Lead Liberated, we believe joy is resistance. In a world where racism is in the air we breathe, choosing joy is a radical act.
In ten years, the 8-year-olds currently in a school connected to Lead Liberated will be 18. Having attended schools led by liberated leaders who ensured their success, those young people will have the skills and social experiences they need to embrace joy and thrive.
02Our MovementMission, Vision, and Values
Mission
Through healing and learning, we equip leaders in education to interrupt racism within themselves and their organizations in order to co-design antiracist learning cultures.
Vision
Liberated leaders are leading their schools and organizations to collectively create antiracist learning cultures where everyone thrives!
Values
Healing
We create purposeful spaces for healing, reflection, and action.
Learning
We grow by being in inquiry, continually learning and unlearning – especially as it pertains to race and racism.
Joy
We inspire ourselves and others by working from joy and possibility.
Trust
We are honest, transparent, and authentic.
Partnership
We collaborate from a place of mutual respect, accountability, and alignment; using data to drive our decisions.
03Our Core ProgramThe Antiracist Collective
The Antiracist Collective (The Collective) is a two-year immersive experience that provides principals of color, their supervisors and instructional teams with the coaching, development, and community they need to lead liberated. Currently, we directly serve 12 principals of color, their supervisors and ILTs (~80 leaders).
Throughout the program, principals work closely with their supervisors and Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs), fostering a collective approach to achieving antiracist outcomes.. Unlike traditional professional development, which often separates instructional coaching from equity-driven work, The Collective intentionally weaves both together to develop antiracist instructional leaders.
A Key Turning Point:
The Reach Partnership
Cohorts 4 and 5 launched in 2024 under an alliance with Reach University. This allows principals to earn their Clear Administrative Services Credential, a requirement in California, while participating in The Collective. This alignment of credentialing with antiracist leadership training is unique and ensures our principals advance their careers in a system designed for their growth.
The Collective Impact:
Students of Color Thriving Beyond State Standards
Schools from our first three cohorts exceeded the state’s average for Black students and students with IEPs.
We partner with organizations who have a clear mission and vision to interrupt racism by supporting them to create an antiracist organizational culture. We form partnerships through deep engagement, coaching, and professional development.
Yu Ming Charter School:
A Truly Transformational PD
“…leaders of color on my staff [called the Antiracist Leadership Institute], ‘the best professional development experience’ they have ever received.”
“Lead Liberated staff modeled how to create engaging learning opportunities that provided spaciousness to disrupt the tendency for constant urgency, and how we could go further faster by going slower and working through mindset shifts. It’s rare that a PD experience changes mindsets.”
Aspire Monarch Academy:
A Deeply Rooted Connection
From 2012 to 2019, Amber Saberton, journeyed through multiple roles at Monarch, including 5 years as Principal. In 2019, Amber joined the first cohort of The Antiracist Collective. When the pandemic struck, schools everywhere faced uncertainty. With the support of her coach and The Collective community, Amber was able to co-design a response with her school community.
Thanks to these actions, Monarch achieved 100% staff retention as they returned to in-person learning, a testament to Amber’s ability to adapt her leadership through crisis.
After Amber became a principal leadership coach at Lead Liberated, the new principal at Monarch maintained the partnership. Through years of intentional work with Lead Liberated, Monarch has built a strong foundation grounded in shared language, collective leadership, and antiracist values.
05Our Goals & ImpactA Path Towards Real Change
*Cohorts 1-3 have graduated and completed the program. Cohorts 4 & 5 are still active.*
Retain Principals
Goal: 90% of principals thrive in their role for at least 5 years, excluding external pull factors.
Results: Cohorts 1 – 3: 100% of graduates are principals, all exceeding five years, or have been promoted to coach or supervise principals.
Cohorts 4 – 5: 91% are on track to return as principals next year and one principal will become a Chief Academic Officer.
Develop Liberated Leaders
Goal: All leaders achieve their goals to develop as liberated leaders.
Results: Cohorts 1-3: 92% of principals and Supervisors and 87% of ILT members met their Liberated Leadership Goals.
Cohorts 4-5: 100% of principals and Supervisors are making significant progress towards their Liberated Leadership Goals. 93% of lead teachers could name specific ways in which their principal interrupted racism.
Strengthen ILTs
Goal: Principals and Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) use technical and adaptive skills to strengthen the ILT and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) they lead.
Results: Cohorts 1-3: 12 of 14 teams grew on the rubric.
Cohort 4: 100% of principals self-assessed growth in leadership skills.
Cohorts 4-5: Principals and ILTs will assess and implement PLC shifts next year.
Credential Principals
Goal: All participating principals earn their Clear Administrative Services Credential
Progress: Cohort 1-3: Alliance did not exist.
Cohorts 4-5: 100% are on track to clear their credential.
Design Antiracist Policies
Goal: After two years, schools track the outcomes of antiracist practices or policies they implemented.
Results: Cohorts 1-3: 75% of schools implemented new practices and policies that yielded antiracist outcomes.
Cohorts 4-5: Initial results expected in December 2025 and June 2026.
06Our Vision for 2027The Next Chapter of Transformation
Through 2027, we aim to strengthen and expand this impact by directly…
SUPPORTING
~100
Principals, Supervisors and Lead Teachers
IMPACTING
~600
Teachers
IMPACTING
~11,200
Students
08Our TeamThe People Power Behind the Work
Behind every leader we support is a team committed to healing, learning, joy, trust and partnership. Our program team are all former successful principals and a former principal supervisor who bring lived experience, deep expertise, and unwavering heart and soul to this work.
Daneen Keaton, Founder & Executive Director
Tara O’Flaherty, Director of Programs
Amber Saberton, Principal Leadership Coach
Leon Lundie, Principal Leadership Coach
John Westerlund, Director of Finance & Operations
09Our Heartfelt Thank YouFunders and Partners
To our funders and partners, we are deeply and forever grateful.
Bloomberg Philanthropies Mary A. Crocker Trust Sidney E. Frank Foundation Koshland Foundation New Schools Venture Fund Kenneth Rainin Foundation Rogers Family Foundation Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation Aspire Monarch Academy Envision Education San Francisco Public Schools Yu Ming Charter School
10Our Call to ActionThe Moment to Lead is Now
Donate to the Collective:
Support Principals with Professional Development + Healing
Lead Liberated
