Who we are
About Us
About 4DL
4th-Dimension Leaders (4DL) sets the stage for school transformation at the school leader level. Through a robust offering of training and development programs specific to aspiring school leaders, sitting leaders who need high-yield support, and burgeoning leaders of equity work, we provide the foundation for transformation in schools with the greatest need, and stimulate accelerated growth in schools that have benefited from some level of consistency in their environments.
High-need schools require a new and different type of leader if they are to equitably and effectively serve all students. Our programs develop transformational leaders who can disrupt the status quo, push back against the acceptance of low proficiency rates, challenge the notion that poverty is justification for failure, challenge historical structures and systemic forces that deny some children access to a high quality education, and seed deep change in schools. Many schools – especially those that fall into the high-need category – are staffed with leaders, teachers and assistants, all who are receiving little to no quality professional learning, and evidence signs of burnout. We posit that educators who engage in high-quality learning experiences themselves, push to ensure that their students also enjoy thoughtful, rigorous, high-quality learning experiences that lead to tangible social and economic outputs.
Our Mission
Actualize equity.
Build the bench.
Cultivate enabling conditions for school transformation.
Covid-19 Updates
4th-Dimension Leaders is closely monitoring the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. As the situation continues to change rapidly, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community. Our organization remains open and operational with appropriate measures to protect the health of the community, which has included our move to a fully virtual environment at this time.
We will re-evaluate our ability to restart in-person convenings on January 31st, 2021. We are planning for several contingency scenarios and taking decisive, informed action to limit the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring the continuity of our mission. We will continue to update the community regularly to keep you informed of additional measures.
Official Statement on the state of Black Lives
We stand by protestors all over the country who are fed-up with business as usual. We acknowledge the pain and anguish of black people and other marginalized communities in America. We understand the daily horrors faced by black people in this country that many others think about only when their property, opportunity, safety and sanity are at risk. Silence doesn’t deter violence. As our country experiences yet another tipping point, we implore those in seats of power to hear the people, regardless of how they express their fleeting humanity, and course-correct for a history that remains ever present.
We are NOT neutral on this issue. We stand against racial injustice. We send wishes for everyone’s safety during this time and we don’t look forward to returning to anything considered normal.
And, furthermore, there’s no acceptable form of black dissent. Throughout history, black people have employed violence, nonviolence, marches, and boycotts. Only one thing is clear: there is no form of black protest that white supremacy will sanction.
-Kellie Carter Jackson
