How do you move a high school graduation rate from 60% to 87% in a few short years? 

In this high-energy episode, Senior Instructional Coach Daniel Rock and Leadership Coach Erin Anderson-Williams sit down with Dr. Marck Abraham, CEO of MEA Consultant Services and author of What Success Looks Like.

Abraham challenges the traditional, “mushy” definition of school culture, replacing it with a “Culture of Love” rooted in high expectations, objective data and a relentless focus on student results. From closing achievement gaps for Black male students to navigating “low vibration” conversations with staff, this episode provides a strategic roadmap for any leader looking to move the needle in their building.

Key Discussion Points

• The Mechanic Shop Analogy: Why “feeling good” in a school is meaningless if the “car” (the student’s education) isn’t actually fixed.
• The “ABC” Data Buckets: A deep dive into the three metrics that truly matter: Attendance (student and teacher), Behavior and Course passing data.
• Teacher Attendance as Culture: Why teacher attendance is the primary indicator of whether you have built a culture where people feel seen and valued.
• Hard on Data, Soft on People: Strategies for using objective rubrics and report card audits to hold courageous conversations without making them personal.
• Shedding the Sugar: Why a quiet classroom isn’t necessarily a learning classroom, and how to shift the heavy lifting of instruction from the teacher to the students.

Featured Guest

Dr. Marck Abraham is a renowned educator, author and speaker who has served as a community mentor, school counselor and principal. He is recognized for his work with organizations across the country, such as the Obama Foundation, and his ability to drive significant gains in graduation rates and attendance across diverse school districts.

You can find this episode on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to your podcasts.