BEYOND PLANNING
Implementing Effective Strategies
Vision, goals, objectives, benchmarks, and achievement measures are essential for success. We can help you do that work. But our real focus is on what comes next: implementation. We help you create doable action steps, secure and align resources to take those steps, and shift implementation ("pivot") when necessary without going off-mission.
HELPING EDUCATORS TRANSFORM VISION INTO REALITY
We help mission-driven organizations, charter schools, and educators turn their vision into a reality.
METIS Partners in Education ("METIS") is a woman-owned business that provides consulting services related to program development, learning design and development, technical assistance, and communications and outreach. Founded by educators, the company’s mission is to provide reasonably-priced expert services so that all stakeholders in education have the opportunity to be successful. Our clients include nonprofits, charter schools, traditional public schools, state education agencies, institutions of higher education, and education-focused organizations.
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METIS is a New York State-certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).
ABOUT METIS
We are a team of educators who have created successful public schools and programs, won and implemented transformative grant programs with non-profits and school districts, and helped charter schools develop effective programs, policies, and practices. We believe in public education as a great equalizer, and we have spent our careers doing the hard work to make that vision a reality. We are not pontificators, promoters, or pundits. We are hands-on education workers who make missions happen in the real world. If you are ready to make your vision for education come true, contact us. We can help.
SERVICES
Our team is action-based and results-oriented. We take on projects where our clients are driven and deeply committed to their goals but need support along the way.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
From Concept to Implementation
Grant and Application Writing I Strategic Planning
Grant Implementation I Project Management
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If you want someone to "write a grant" for you, better not to call us. That never works. If you want help constructing a realistic plan for creating and implementing an educational program, we are your team. And don't worry, we write the grant proposal too.
We offer support after you win the grant with implementation related to planning, executing, and monitoring for success.
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We have proven success with authoring charter school applications as well as charter school renewal narratives.
LEARNING DESIGN
Customized Learning and Development
Training Development I Instructional Design
Curricula Development I Resource Creation
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METIS provides learning design services to help our clients offer rich and engaging professional learning experiences that build educators’ skills and knowledge in a wide variety of topic areas. We specialize in designing virtual and asynchronous training that reaches large audiences. Whether you need a course built from scratch on a learning management system or a portfolio of skillfully designed training resources, we offer customized services that inspire learners to continually pursue improvement.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Meeting You Where You Are
Needs Evaluation I Capacity-Building I Research to Practice
Charter School Creation and Success I School Board Development
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Education is a tough sector that requires professionals to have both unique and expansive skill sets, offers few substantial resources, and is under constant scrutiny by, well, everyone. For schools and supporting organizations to be successful in this environment, they must consistently build their capacity to maintain strong leadership, sustainable resources, and the full support of their community. We work with our partners to build and sustain educational programs and schools that last.
For charter schools, contact us if you want help at any stage of the process: concept development, community engagement, letter of intent, application, charter school planning grants, reporting to authorizers, renewal, replication, expansion, or turnaround.
Warning: We don't bring a template. We help you build a school
that is right for your students.
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH
Your Community, Your Message, Our Polish
Community Engagement I Website Development
Presentation and Materials Development I Social Media
Graphic Design I Video Production
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From crafting your message to the sleek and branded graphic design of your portfolio of assets, METIS can fill in your gaps when it comes to effectively reaching your audiences. We can support every level of the communication process from the development of an engagement strategy to designing and regularly updating your website.
Areas of Work
METIS offers consulting services across a wide variety of content areas. Our core areas of expertise are:
Charters Schools
New Educational Programs
Schoolwide Strategic Planning
Learning Technology
School Leadership
Culture and Community
School Transformation
School Finance and Operations
Professional Development
Mentoring
TEAM
Amy Shore, PhD
Amy is a partner with METIS and has worked closely with education nonprofits and K-12 school systems for over 25 years to develop programs and resources that increase equitable, high-quality public education opportunities for all students. She has written charter school applications and grants for special programs that have been awarded in the millions of dollars, including competitive state and federal grant programs. Amy is currently appointed as Professor of Cinema & Screen Studies at the State University of New York at Oswego.
Lisa DiGaudio, PhD
Lisa is a partner with METIS as well as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at New Dawn Charter Schools in New York City, which serve over-age, under-credited high school students. She serves as the lead on curriculum, instruction, and staffing for all METIS projects. She has extensive experience with staffing, working in charter schools, evaluations, and development of new programs. Lisa has published several books with Teacher’s Discovery, including Informational Text Analysis in 10 Lessons: Life Skills Edition and Seminal U.S. Document Analysis in 10 Lessons.
Sara Asmussen, PhD
Sara is a partner with METIS as well as Founding Executive Director of New Dawn Charter High Schools in NYC. She comes from the field of community mental health research with extensive experience in managing large-scale research projects, budgets, and grant work. She began her work in education at the Beginning with Children Foundation as the Director of Research, moving on to John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School, the first transfer charter school in NYS, as the Director of Compliance and Accountability.
Carter Clawson, MSW, PMP
Carter is a seasoned project director and professional learning expert who has overseen successful multimillion-dollar training and technical assistance projects from initiation to closeout. Before joining METIS as a Senior Director, Carter led major educational programs, including the National Charter School Resource Center. She holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Virtual Instruction Designer.
Annie Syso
Annie is a marketing and communications professional with over eight years of experience in the education space. She is an expert in digital marketing, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing educational organizations and a passion for helping schools achieve their goals and create a positive impact in their communities. Most recently, Annie was the Director of Marketing and Communications at Coney Island Prep Charter School in Brooklyn, NY.
In addition to the core team, we have access to a cadre of subject matter experts, product development experts, educators, and graphic designers. We use a flexible and agile staffing model to ensure you have access to the experts you need when you need them.
CLIENTS
Some of our recent and current clients:
NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (NYSED)
Grant Development
Led NYSED through the development and authorship of multiple multi-million dollar grant applications to the USDOE, successfully securing federal funding in support of high-quality educational programs that support New York State public schools and students.
TALE ACADEMY
Curriculum Development | Communications & Outreach
In partnership with NYSED and Measurement Inc., developed over 50 innovative professional learning courses for educators on teaching across learning environments (TALE), available at www.tale-academy.com/catalog.
MEASUREMENT INC.
Program Development & Strategic Implementation
Led development of grant-funded programs in the areas of early intervention services, charter school support services, special education resource centers, and other technical assistance programs.
MANHATTAN STRATEGY GROUP
Communications & Outreach I Resource Creation
Developed videos highlighting effective charter school practices for MSG as part of their work to share national best practices among charter schools.
ROYAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Charter School Creation
Co-authored successful charter school applications in Texas and supporting development of a new charter school in upstate New York with comprehensive planning, community engagement, and application development.
HELLENIC CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charter School Renewal and Replication
Led development of this national blue ribbon-winning charter school's renewal application and replication application. HCCS now has two highly-effective charter schools: one in Park Slope, Brooklyn and the other in Staten Island.
AECI CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charter School Renewal and Replication
Led development of this successful charter school's renewal application and replication application. AECI now has two highly-effective charter schools serving students in the Bronx.
CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION
Charter School Support
Developed collaborative programming among independent charter schools affiliated with the nonprofit organization Center for Educational Innovation.
CONTACT US
Offices in Syracuse - Brooklyn - Queens - Long Island
We have been working remotely with clients
across the country since 2005.