Last year, Nike launched the Nike School Innovation Fund, a five-year, nine million dollar commitment to schools in its headquarters community. The fund is designed to help schools develop new and innovative practices in education, especially around leadership development and early learning.
But the effort is about more than money. It’s about Nike employees lending their time and expertise in public schools. The largest grant to Portland schools funded the Portland Leadership Collaborative (PLC), a year-long initiative to build and improve school leadership teams in 23 selected schools.
Some Nike leaders are supporting individual school teams by lending their expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, team building, coaching, communications, and out-of-the-box thinking.
To get a better sense of the work of public school leaders, eight Nike leaders became “Principal for a Day” in seven schools in early February.
“This was a great window into the challenges faced by those leading our schools,” said Heidi O’Neill, Vice President of Global Women’s Training. “It’s clear that there is a great amount we can teach each other.”
O’Neill was joined by Elvira Corey, Americas HR Director; Dan Jones, VP, US Categories; Keith Houlemard, Footwear Merchandising Director: Jamie Jeffries, US Women’s Training General Manager; Caroline Lew, Strategic Planning Manager; Trip Randall, US Footwear Director; Amy White, Global Footwear Leader; and Julia Brim-Edwards, State & Public Affairs Director.
The Nike School Innovation Fund will continue to promote and facilitate interaction between school leaders and Nike employees. New grants and project will be announced in Spring 2008. Learn more.