In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud sits down with Stacey Cohen, Principal of Mesa View Elementary School, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Stacey shares how her team moved from the brink of turnaround to sustained performance—and most recently, national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School—by pairing research-based practice with a culture of dignity, partnership, and “leadership for all.”
Together, Wendy and Stacey explore how Mesa View is deepening Tier 1 instruction, building daily SEL routines that stick, and redesigning student supports to keep learners connected. They also unpack how authentic family engagement and shared leadership fuel long-term improvement and community trust.
Key Moments
01:07 Inheriting a strong culture amid performance decline
03:02 Moving from priority improvement toward success
04:51 Six high-impact practices that shifted outcomes
10:22 Replacing hallway removals with cozy corners
16:01 Building daily SEL lessons and community circles
19:22 Tackling chronic absenteeism after the pandemic
23:29 From involvement to true family engagement
26:20 Reimagining kindergarten onboarding
27:50 Launching FLYT Club for families
31:20 Empowering teachers through shared leadership
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This is a grounded, inspiring story of turnaround done right. Stacey shows how a school can achieve lasting success—without new funding—through high-impact instruction, inclusion, and trust. If you’re passionate about leadership, systems change, and culture that uplifts everyone, this episode delivers powerful, practical takeaways.
About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they’re turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement—one leader, one learner,
What is Unlock 360?
Each episode unpacks the practices, partnerships, and people behind measurable gains in student outcomes. From building collaborative leadership cultures to designing equity-driven systems, you'll hear what happens when clarity, coherence, and coaching align.
Whether you're a superintendent, campus leader, or classroom educator, Unlock 360 offers fresh insights, practical strategies, and an honest look at what it takes to create lasting impact. New episodes released biweekly.