Insights from Educational Leaders

 
““Family engagement is always a critical factor in student success. But it is especially so now when so many are learning outside of the traditional brick and mortar environment. OPUS, the One Green Apple solution, is a well-designed and comprehensive way to keep families informed and connected on what matters most: their child’s progress.””
— Chris Cerf is a former New Jersey State Superintendent of Education, former Deputy Chancellor of NYC schools, and a former Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. He has also been the president and CEO of Edison Schools and CEO of Amplify Insight.
 
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““The world has certainly changed, and we still wonder what the outcomes will actually look like. The issue many times include lack of family, lack of any involvement, and lack of necessary infrastructure. Anything we can do to level this playing field is essential. OPUS makes it easier for a family to stay connected and contribute to their child’s success. The flexibility to do this on their phone is critical; that may be the only real connectivity they have.””
— Gayle Manchin is the former President of the National Association of State Boards of Education, and the former President of West Virginia State Board of Education. Gayle has spoken at the state and national levels on the challenges of rural education, poverty, and student achievement. She was recently appointed as federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission.
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““Teacher and administrator workloads have doubled in this new learning environment. OPUS could be the answer to easing their time restriction, saving time while increasing the effectiveness of teacher-parent engagement.””
— Mark Stevens is a former executive with the National Education Association (largest teachers union in the US, approx 3 Million members) and former Executive Director of AOL Education. Mark has been a Board member for many education and IT organizations.
 
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““Many of the issues facing America’s schools have nothing to do with education itself. Parents are stressed and feel lost about how to engage effectively to make a difference for their children. Knowing that their involvement is having a positive effect on their children increases their own self-worth.

During my time as President of Communities in Schools we grew to rely on data analysis to help us evaluate and maximize our efforts. One Green Apple provides metrics that help schools understand the impact of their family outreach; it also helps CBOs find hidden issues affecting student performance.””
— Bill Milliken, Founder and Vice Chairman of Communities In Schools, Inc., is one of the nation's foremost pioneers in the movement to give young people the help they need to graduate from high school and go on to rewarding lives. Currently, the organization directly serves more than 1.26 million students and their families each year in more than 2,700 schools in 28 states and the District of Columbia.