We Empower Educators and Learners to Thrive in a Continuously Evolving World
Mission, Vision, Values & Purpose
Our Mission: We collaborate with educators to enable learners to thrive.
Our Vision: We sustain an adaptive, innovative education organization where we empower leaders, educators, students, and parents to adopt a sustainable growth mindset for a better future.
Our Values
We are commited to access and equity in education.
We are advocates for complex problem-solving and holistic decision-making in uncertainty.
We promote regard for our schools as an essential element of strong communities and a bright future.
We believe in human-centric pedagogical innovation, inspired by the science of nature.
Our Purpose: We elevate education to create systemic change.
TESTIMONIALS
Anne Leonetti, Board Member, 2012-2016, International School of Los Angeles, CA
“During a critical time, our Board partnered with Francis Cholle for an intricate transformative process ending in a retreat. Francis’ skillful facilitation and the SQUIRCLE® science-based framework united us, blending critical thinking, intuition, and collaboration. This process empowered us with courage and confidence to guide our school serving 1,100 students across five locations, into a bright future.”
Matthias Stelzner, MD, FACS, Professor, UCLA
“SQUIRCLE is not just a thought-provoking resource for business teams; it is a must-read for physicians, scientists, and leaders in all fields.”
Michael Maniska, Head of School, International School of Los Angeles
“When we stop to consider that half the class of 2030 will be in occupations that have not yet been conceptualized, solving problems that have hitherto not been articulated, it strikes me that the most successful employees of the future will implicitly embody the SQUIRCLE way of thinking.”
Meet the Team
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Francis Cholle
FOUNDER & CEO
Francis uses deep human learning and cognitive science to help leaders and organizations solve complex problems and thrive in disruption®. The last of his three books, a Wall Street Journal best-seller, SQUIRCLE: A New Way to Think for a New World examines the human predisposition to dismiss perception, emotion, and inspiration, and its cost to people and organizations. As the sponsor of this project, Francis lends his subject-matter expertise on human potential via the SQUIRCLE™ framework to the challenges and opportunities in education today.
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Victoria McCoy
President
Vicki brings 30 years of exemplary business and K12 educational experience to her leadership of the foundation. An award-winning instructional leader, Vicki transitioned to building a record of high-performance in leadership roles in the education sector. As VP of Professional Learning Services at NWEA/HMH she expanded the reach and impact of her company in the field of teaching and learning through innovative design, development and implementation of large-scale, transformative initiatives with educators at all levels, including two state departments of education.
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Gail Powers
Educational Leadership Specialist
Gail earned her Ed.D. from Johns Hopkins, her MS of Education from Virginia State, and her BS in Education from Shaw University. As an experienced education leader, Gail is driven by a deep passion for transforming education and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Her transformative work focuses on support for leaders in cultivating a culture of continuous improvement to create brighter futures for schools and communities.
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Robin Whitacre
Educational Design Specialist
Robin’s exceptional work with educational leaders across the US spans decades. As a teacher, building principal, leadership coach, and professional learning specialist, Robin brings creativity and innovation to design leadership resulting in transformative programs for districts and states. She has built long-term relationships in diverse communities through her extensive work with Bureau of Indian Education schools and recent work with the Loyola Marymount University Center for Urban Resilience Restorative Justice Project (CURes RJ).
Our Advisory Board
W. Christopher Brandt, PhD
Chris is an associate researcher at the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment with more than 20 years of experience in education as a research scientist, assessment director, and teacher.
He is a What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)-certified reviewer who has led numerous impact and implementation studies for the Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, and foundations.
Schoene Mahmood
Schoene is a dedicated leader in Restorative Justice Practices (RJP) with over 20 years of experience working towards the transformation of academic communities.
Schoene was honored in 2023 with the Loyola Marymount University Center for Reconciliation and Justice's Hidden Heroes Award, recognizing her unwavering commitment to the cause.
Her research on Restorative Justice Practice implementation was published in the Community of Practice Journal in March 2024.
Norbert Herman
Norbert is a seasoned business strategist, AI solutions leader, and innovative consultant. He drives business growth by integrating advanced AI technologies with strategic business development, helping companies rethink their approach to decision-making.
His clients range from global powerhouses to emerging firms across
diverse sectors, including technology, retail, financial services, and telecommunications.
Our Framework
Meet SQUIRCLE™ for Schools, a new way to empower educators and students for a new world.