Managing Director of Instructional Supports
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Jake Schmitz is the Managing Director of Instructional Supports at SchoolWorks.

A certified Summit Learning Support Partner, he helped develop SchoolWorks’ specialized rubric for Personalized Learning Implementation Assessment and has facilitated PL reviews on behalf of Dallas Independent School District, Denver Public Schools, Henry County Public Schools (Georgia), and Lake County Public Schools (Florida).

He also oversees SchoolWorks Instructional Supports service area, spearheading the ongoing development of SchoolWorks Classroom Visit Tool (CVT) and the accompanying MORE (Master, Observe, Rate Elevate) System for elevating instructional quality.

Jake is originally from Kansas and is a proud graduate of the University of Kansas. In 2007, he served as the founding English teacher for YES Prep Gulfton in Houston. After teaching 6th grade, he was promoted to Dean of Students, and in January of 2009 was named the School Director. Under his leadership, YES Prep Gulfton achieved an “exemplary” rating every year. After YES Prep, Jake moved to Kansas City where he was School Leader at KIPP Endeavor Academy from 2011-15, growing the school’s enrollment and KIPP through College Program with 99% of the 8th grade class being accepted to high-performing high schools in 2012 and 2013.

With SchoolWorks, Schmitz has led School Quality Reviews in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and throughout Massachusetts. He credits SchoolWorks with developing strong protocols that help schools improve. “There’s evidence-based criteria we’re looking for,” he says. “I appreciate the specificity and consistency.”

"As a school leader, I had the opportunity to experience a quality review from SchoolWorks. I found the process to be so insightful and executed with such professionalism, that I knew I wanted to join the SchoolWorks team.  Today, I see myself as a thought partner for my clients.  I’ve been on the other side of the desk, and I get it. My role is to provide the support, capacity, and accountability they need to improve. "
- Jake Schmitz, SchoolWorks Managing Director of Instructional Supports

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