Discovering an Inspiring Model for Nonprofit LeadershipBlogs,

By Dave Newberry, 2012 ProInspire Fellow

Last year when I was selected to join the ProInspire Fellowship program, I accepted a leadership role working directly with Achievement Prep founder Shantelle Wright. Going into the fellowship I was excited to work with a nationally celebrated figure in the charter movement, but I had no idea to what degree the experience would transform the way I think about nonprofit organizations’ management challenges.

Before ProInspire, I never imagined the full scope of pressure a non-profit leader could face. While I’ve worked with stakeholders in the past, we deal with dozens at Achievement Prep. Our strategic decisions must consider fiercely competitive interest groups. For example, our decision on a permanent home for the school, which is currently in an incubator space, is shaped by the needs of the families that we serve but also must be informed by the needs of community leaders, the Public Charter School Board, DCPS, local businesses, foundations, and other strategic partners.

To remain faithful to her vision, a nonprofit leader needs incredible persuasion skills. In a short time through the fellowship I've seen how a school leader has influenced the Public Charter School Board, wooed local businesses, cajoled entrenched government bureaucracy, and inspired community families. She rises to the occasion and always communicates (sometimes forcefully) the school’s vision and mission for the children the city's most underserved community. As a future leader in education, I've found something both inspirational and aspirational, a model for leadership in the nonprofit sector that works together with a variety of stakeholders without ever compromising the mission.