About Us
Who We Are
SustainED Leaders is a nonprofit organization led by passionate educators who have extensive experience partnering with schools and districts to implement research and evidence-based practices that accelerate all students' learning.
What Makes Us Unique
Customized Solutions
We partner with leaders to design and implement customized solutions based on the unique context of the school and district.
Evidence & Research-Based Practices
We leverage research and evidence-based practices in our support and development of leaders and teachers.
Experience Leading Continuous Improvement
Our team has extensive experience supporting leaders to implement high-leverage practices that enhances the quality of teaching and learning for all students.
Our Team
Jacob Stainbrook
CEO
Before co-founding SustainED Leaders, Jacob served in senior leadership roles at multiple school districts. He has coached and managed leaders as the Vice President of Schools at IDEA Tarrant County and as a Managing Director at Uplift Education. As a principal, he led the turnaround of a low-performing middle school in Dallas, Texas, transforming it into one of the highest-rated middle schools in Texas. Jacob has worked as a national consultant at TNTP and taught instructional leadership courses to graduate students as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University.
Rachel Yearwood
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Leadership Development Director
Rachel Yearwood is a Leadership Development Director for SustainED Leaders. Before this role, she founded and led a campus as an Academic Director with Uplift Education for six years. While obtaining her Master's degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Rachel was an elementary school principal intern in Cambridge Public Schools. She started her educational career in Spring Branch ISD where she was able to teach middle school Science, lead as Department Chair, and work with the district curriculum over a five-year time span. She has received a B.S in Biology from Prairie View A&M University and an M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Houston.
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Grace Jackson
Leadership Development Director
Grace Jackson is a Leadership Development Director for SustainED Leaders. Prior to this role, Grace worked at Uplift Education for 10 years, where she served as a PYP Dean and Academic Director. In addition to serving as a school leader, Grace also worked as a Residency Mentor for the Summit Learning Teacher Residency program, where she coached a cohort of new teachers toward earning their credentials. After graduating from the University of Florida, Grace moved to Dallas to begin her career in education as a middle school science teacher at KIPP TRUTH Academy. She received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington.
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Naima Blakes
Program Director
Prior to becoming a Program Manager for SustainED Leaders, Naima worked as an Instructional Dean with Uplift Education. In this role, she completely revamped teacher leader development to increase the effectiveness of professional learning communities on campus. In her former position as an Academic Counselor, she supported her campus to repeatedly outpace the district in yearly reading and math growth. Before serving in campus leadership roles, Ms. Blakes worked as a Math Intervention Specialist and Science Teacher in the states of Texas and Nevada.
Caitlin Wright
Leadership Development Director
Caitlin Wright is a Leadership Development Director for SustainED Leaders. She graduated from Grambling State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Since then, she has led and taught students in grades PreK-8 for over twenty years. While working for San Bernardino City Unified School District, she taught dual immersion, grades K-6, served as campus Admin Designee, and on district curriculum committees. After moving to Dallas, Caitlin completed the Ed Fellows program with Teaching Trust. Most recently, she was with Uplift Education for eight years where she served as Interventionist, MYP Dean, and a founding Academic Director.
Our Board
Our Board of Directors are trusted advisors and partners who each have led meaningful change in education.
Our Core Values
Commits to Excellence
Continuously Learns & Improves
Thinks & Acts Strategically
Leads Courageously
Builds Trusting Relationships
Utilizes Evidence-Based Practices
Strives for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Donors
Rosemary & Michael Perlmeter
Ellen Wood
David Wallenstein & Family
Karen Pollock
