StoryLab x Showcase Schools
The Showcase Schools program recognized and shared promising practices in schools across New York City. During Showcase visits, host schools opened their doors for full-day transformational learning experiences complete with differentiated activities, guided tours, and artifacts designed to make their journey visible. Each of these days began with the school’s principal sharing a personal story about their work in order to connect with visitors and anchor the day’s learning.
These stories, as well as other stories told by staff throughout Showcase visits, were developed through a close partnership between Showcase Schools and StoryLab to seamlessly integrate the power of storytelling into their program. Over five years, eighty five schools hosted nearly thirteen thousand visitors, and countless stories were told.
We began each year with a large-scale workshop during the annual kickoff event, followed by in-person coaching for each principal, as well as support at performances, and feedback and continued coaching to prepare for the next performance. StoryLab and Showcase checked in regularly to track the progress of our partnership and make revisions to our plan. When pop-up workshops were appropriate, we developed them. When more or different attention was required in certain places, we adjusted. The entire Showcase Schools team, as well as the fellows at host schools, became experts in storytelling. At the end of each school year, we celebrated our work with a party and story slam. To commemorate all this incredible work with Showcase Schools, StoryLab collected, edited, and published a collection of principal’s stories.
By coaching and supporting schools to tell stories about their practices in this way, host schools were able to connect more powerfully and memorably, and thus empower others looking to spark similar change in their schools. The impact is hard to overstate. Personal stories are undeniably powerful, particularly in professional settings. StoryLab is honored to have been able to support so many inspiring leaders share their stories.
