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Author: Adam Jacobs

September is Attendance Awareness Month: How Do We Make Attendance Data Matter?

It’s Attendance Awareness Month: How Do We Truly Understand Attendance Numbers? September is Attendance Awareness Month, which means schools across the country are paying close attention to a familiar set of numbers: days absent, average daily attendance, and rates of chronic absenteeism. But those numbers can only tell us so much. Attendance tells us whether […]

Belonging From Day One: Building the Foundation for a Positive School Climate

Belonging From Day One: Building the Foundation for a Positive School Climate Every school has a climate, whether you plan for it or not. It’s in the way the front office greets a visitor, in whether a student gets called by name in the hallway, in whether a student raises their hand or decides it’s […]

NSCC Turns 30: With Gratitude, Three Decades of Impact

Thirty years ago, the National School Climate Center began with an idea: the daily experience of school shapes how students learn, how they develop, and who they become. At the time, school climate was at the margins of the education conversation. Today, it is woven into how schools and districts think about improvement and about […]

Start With Climate: Setting the Conditions for a Strong School Year

Discover five practical ways to create a positive school climate that supports students, educators, and families throughout the school year.

The routines, relationships, and expectations established in the opening weeks can help set the foundation for the entire school year. Starting with climate means being intentional about those conditions from day one and continuing to listen, learn, and adjust as the year unfolds.

Shared Leadership: The Missing Link in School Climate Success

School leaders, teachers, and educators collaborating as a shared leadership team to improve school climate

For nearly 30 years, educators, researchers, and organizations like the National School Climate Center have built the case that school climate drives academic success, wellbeing, and staff retention.  In schools and districts around the world, school climate is a priority. However, the pressing question is not if they focus on a positive school climate, the […]

3 Strategies For Making School Climate Survey Data Work 

3 Strategies For Making School Climate Survey Data Work 

Districts are collecting more school climate data than ever. Response rates are improving, reporting tools are stronger, and many districts now have multiple years of results. By this point in the year, most districts have already reviewed their data and shared initial findings. And yet, in many cases, the data does not lead to meaningful […]

How is School Climate like a Garden?

How is School Climate like a Garden?

Spring is here. We often share the metaphor of a garden to explain school climate, and as the flowers start to bloom, now is the time to think about the ways that students (and schools) blossom and grow.  In a garden, there are 5 basic elements needed to grow–water, air, soil, sun, and space. Some […]

Using School Climate Data to Move from Guesswork to Action in Difficult Times

Using School Climate Data to Move from Guesswork to Action in Difficult Times

School leaders are constantly navigating competing priorities, shifting demands, and unexpected challenges. A strong school climate approach helps bring focus to the work—using data, teamwork, and clear priorities to respond effectively in the moment while staying on track for long-term, meaningful change.

Unlocking the Power of School Climate

On November 20, 2025, the National School Climate Center held our 29th Anniversary Celebration. At the event, our Co-Executive Director, Dr. Christian Villenas, opened the evening by sharing his experience with school and his motivation for getting involved in NSCC. We invite you to read Christian’s speech or watch it below. Good evening, everyone. It’s […]

Thank you for joining our 29th Anniversary Celebration

NSCC’s 29th Anniversary Celebration Thank you for celebrating with us. Below are the event journal and photos from the evening. We are grateful to our supporters, and to the evening’s honorees, Dr. George Igel, recipient of the first School Climate Vanguard Award, and the Capital Region Education Council, our inaugural school district recipients of the […]

Announcing the Inaugural School Climate Catalyst Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE National School Climate Center to Present the Inaugural School Climate Catalyst Award to the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at The Harvard Club of New York City The National School Climate Center (NSCC) is proud to recognize the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) in Hartford, CT with […]

The Importance of Setting Early Patterns in School Climate

The Importance of Setting Early Patterns in School Climate   By October, schools are finding a rhythm. Arrival and dismissal procedures, hallway traffic flows, and classroom routines all feel familiar. An early and lasting pattern is taking shape: the emotional and relational climate that will define the school year ahead. The climate established at this […]

The Next School Climate Leadership Certification Cohort is Here

We are excited to launch the next cohort of the School Climate Leadership Certification, launching October 1, 2025. This 11-week online course includes 15 learning modules, 4 live virtual sessions, and 4 small group coaching calls. SCLC is for individuals or teams looking to learn about school climate and collaborate with others to build safer, […]

What is School Climate Readiness…and Why Does it Matter?

A school climate improvement process can seem like trying to run a marathon when you’re just getting through a sprint each day. A truly comprehensive process can last 3-5 years (!!!), but just like a marathon, it takes training and preparation to build on each day to eventually reach the finish line.  Even if planning […]

School Climate Can Be a Guide In Times of Uncertainty and Crisis

We are in a moment of extraordinary uncertainty and change in schools. The current political climate as well as new federal actions, such as dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, add difficulty to the already demanding jobs of school leaders. While there is no easy fix, one truth remains steadfast:Schools focused on building a positive […]

E Tsang, Director of Operations, National School Climate Center

E Tsang

Director of Operations

As the Director of Operations for NSCC, E Tsang helps make the finances, HR, and organizational functions of NSCC run smoothly.
Adam St. Bernard Jacobs(he/him), Co-Executive Director, National School Climate Center

Adam St. Bernard Jacobs (he/him)

Co-Executive Director

Adam is a peace educator and nonprofit leader. Adam was previously the organization’s Director of Development. Prior to joining NSCC, Adam was the co-founder and Executive Director of Kids Creative, an arts education organization in NYC. He was also a member of the team that founded a community elementary school in The Bronx. He has worked on issues of equity, anti-racism, arts education, and conflict resolution. He has written articles and led workshops in conflict resolution and the arts, giving talks and workshops at Columbia University, The Peace and Justice Studies Conference, Gettysburg College, and The University of Istanbul, among others. Adam has an undergraduate degree in International Politics, a Masters degree in Peace Education, and a Certificate in Senior Nonprofit Leadership, all from Columbia University, as well as an undergraduate degree in Rabbinic Law from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He was also Mr. Clown, a lead performer in the internationally acclaimed rock group for kids, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and was a regular on Nick Jr. and Chuck E Cheese TV. He is raising 2 fantastic children with his life partner, Tabitha.
Kori Hamilton Biagas, Director of Education, National School Climate Center

Kori Hamilton Biagas

Director of Education

Kori is an educator, connector, truth seeker, master facilitator, and the founder of Just Educators. Kori has nearly 20 years of experience in strategic planning, policy analysis and development, instruction, coaching, and technical assistance. As an Equity Specialist for the Region IV and Region IX equity assistance centers, Kori managed large-scale, racial equity driven school district transformation efforts, led district and state leaders through policy analysis, coached state leaders through school climate transformation initiatives, and provided equity-focused professional learning opportunities at all levels of education. Kori specializes in addressing and resolving inequitable policies, practices, and processes in organizations related to racial equity and social justice.
Christian Villenas, Ph.D, Co-Executive Director, National School Climate Center

Christian Villenas, Ph.D

Co-Executive Director

A sociologist by training and an applied education researcher by practice, Christian’s work examines how educational institutions shape opportunity, belonging, exclusion, and student experience. At NSCC, he helps guide the organization’s research, measurement, evaluation, partnerships, and strategic growth, with a focus on making evidence usable for schools, districts, and education partners. Before joining NSCC, Dr. Villenas held research and policy roles at GLSEN, Advocates for Children of New York, the New York City Charter School Center, the NAEP Education Statistics Services Institute, and the American Institutes for Research. Across more than two decades, his work has focused on school climate, social disparities in education, disability studies, LGBTQ student experiences, college access, education policy, program evaluation, and statistical analysis. He holds a BS from New York University, an MS from The New School, and a PhD in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University.
Amanda Weitzel, Director of School Partnerships, National School Climate Center

Amanda Weitzel

Director of School Partnerships

For over a decade at NSCC, Amanda has partnered with schools and districts across the country to support the implementation of school climate surveys and the strategic use of data to drive meaningful improvement. With a background in data analysis, customer success, and partner support, Amanda specializes in helping educators move beyond data collection to uncover actionable insights that strengthen school communities. Her work sits at the intersection of research, data, and practice, guiding school and district leaders in translating survey results into informed decisions that support student success, staff well-being, and positive learning environments. Amanda is passionate about empowering educators with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to create safe, supportive, and engaging schools where all students can thrive.
Samantha Elleman, Associate Director of Research, National School Climate Center

Samantha Elleman

Associate Director of Research

Samantha’s primary research topics span school climate, social inclusion, and school climate improvement. Prior to joining the National School Climate Center, Samantha worked as Assistant Teacher and Research Assistant at the Barnard Toddler Center. Her research interests include early childhood education, childhood trauma and protective factors, social-emotional education, and mental wellness in schools. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Barnard College and a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.