Phil joins Transcend as a School Design Partner within the Rural Schools Portfolio. He has spent the past ten years learning and leading under the belief that “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” This quote by Dr. Rita Pierson is the driving force behind his passion for supporting school teams and leaders to reimagine schools and design extraordinary and equitable experiences for all.
Prior to joining Transcend, Phil served as a Distributed Leadership Specialist at Chicago Public Schools. In this role, he supported school leaders with cultivating strong, academically-focused instructional leadership teams, empowering Teacher Leaders to lead teams in continuous learning, and developing a culture of feedback and coaching for all teachers. Phil began his teaching career as a Teach for America corps member in Houston, TX, where he taught 2nd-grade writing & science before transitioning to high school. As a high school teacher, Phil found his passion for reimagining learning experiences to center student voices and lived experiences through project-based learning.
Phil currently lives in Chicago, IL, with his German Shepherd/Lab mix – Miami (named after his hometown). In his spare time, he enjoys exploring restaurants and vinyl shops in his new city, sparking intellectual discussions about classic television shows (go-to topic – Ms. Frizzle: A PBL Early Pioneer), and making core memories with friends. Phil earned his B.A. in Sociology from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Continue Your Journey
Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning
Transcend’s Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning describes the key ways we believe the student experience must change so that schools can prepare all young people to thrive in and transform the world.
Transform Learning with Community-Based Design
Community-based design is a collaborative and local process that brings together young people, educators, administrators, caregivers, and experts to redesign learning. It goes beyond traditional school improvement initiatives by involving the entire community in reshaping...
