Leading Together: The Five District Partnership Case Study describes a collaborative venture developed by the Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere and Winthrop school districts in response to the challenge of student mobility. Every year, thousands of students move among the schools in these neighboring cities, creating major disruptions in learning, as documented by previous MassINC research.
This case study looks into how the superintendents from these five communities fashioned a joint response to the mobility problem. The paper is part of a series of case studies examining innovative Gateway City initiatives. Each profile explores the unique dynamics of change in small to midsize urban communities, where resources are limited and social challenges are complex. These papers capture the basic mechanics of the initiatives. Then they attempt to distill universal lessons for leaders by looking at how communities come together to make their change efforts a success.