Inside Leading Future-Focused Schools: Resources, Stories, & Inspiration

Big news! Our Co-Founder, Shira Woolf Cohen’s new book, Leading Future-Focused Schools: Preparing Every Student for Their Future, is officially out in the world and we’re so excited to finally share it with you! This book has been years in the making, built from Shira’s experience as a school and workforce leader and our Innovageous work with schools, communities, and workforce partners who all share one common belief: every student deserves the tools, opportunities, and confidence to step into their future with purpose.

Inside the book, you’ll find not only stories and strategies, but also reproducible tools that you can immediately use with your staff. These include leader self-assessment tools to guide reflection and growth, curriculum webs that help educators embed future-focused learning into daily instruction, and career development frameworks that bring clarity and structure to building experiences for students. Each tool, housed in an online resource center,  is designed to make implementation practical and actionable, so leaders don’t just read about future-focused learning, they can start building it right away!

If you’re curious to dive right in, you don’t have to wait. I’ve had the chance to talk about the book and its ideas on several podcasts, each offering a unique lens into the work. Whether you’re a school leader, educator, or workforce partner, these conversations will give you a feel for the kinds of strategies and stories the book lifts up:

• Principal Center Radio with Justin Baeder

• Leading Equity with Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D.

• Innovating Education with Riley Williams, EdD

• Identity Talk for Educators with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

The book is enriched by the wisdom and work of incredible collaborators and partners who are paving the way in education and workforce development. Throughout the book, Innovageous co-founders and team members share advice and insights around key areas like establishing values and culture, culturally responsive teaching, special education, and communication. The Foreword comes from Diana Dobin, CEO/President of Valley Forge Fabrics, who adds a critical industry voice to the conversation by sharing the workforce perspective that schools must consider in shaping students’ futures. The book also lifts up the Future9 Competencies from reDesign, which serve as a practical foundation for preparing students with the mindsets and skills they’ll need in any pathway. Finally, it highlights the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), a national leader in service-learning and youth leadership, showing how powerful student-led service can be in building future-ready skills. Many other organizations are also mentioned throughout the book, demonstrating alignment with and support for innovative practices that help students succeed in school and beyond. 

Special thanks to these partners for sharing their insights and to so many organizations for their commitment to connecting education with the future of work.

If you’re as passionate as we are about preparing students for what lies ahead, we invite you to grab a copy of Leading Future-Focused Schools, tune into one of the podcast episodes above, and explore ways we can work together. Whether through professional learning, keynote or workshop experiences, collaborative systems building, or capacity-building initiatives with sustainable solutions, we are eager to partner with schools, districts, and communities to turn the book’s strategies into action and help every student thrive. 

Ready to get started? Reach out to us at info@innovageous.com or schedule a time to connect at calendly.com/innovageous. Let’s build Future-Focused Schools together!