Public Consulting Group (PCG) was proud to participate in the 2025 Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) Curriculum, Research, and Instructional Leaders Conference, joining district leaders, content experts, and advocates from across the country to share high-impact practices, elevate student outcomes, and reimagine the future of instruction in America’s great city schools.

Our session, “Making Learning Local: How Districts Build Community-Centric Curriculum,” showcased leading voices from council member districts, including Jane Fleming, Director of Literacy for Chicago Public Schools, Melissa Aviles Ramos, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, and Mike Feeney, Executive Director of Elementary Education for Pinellas County Schools. During the session, panelists shared evidence-based strategies, implementation-tested practices, and community-informed approaches that strengthen instructional quality and improve student outcomes across curriculum and support systems.

Moderated by PCG’s Paul Wilson and Dr. Katanna Conley, the discussion centered on how large urban districts design and implement curriculum systems that reflect local priorities, engage communities, and improve student learning at scale.

4 Session Takeaways

Community needs drive curriculum innovation.

Panelists discussed how the needs of their unique stakeholders led to the realization that community-centric curriculum materials would best serve their teachers, students, and families.

Success in urban education requires intentional design and inclusive collaboration.

Leaders emphasized that equitable curriculum implementation in urban schools demands more than just new materials. It requires culturally relevant content, teacher training, and sustained collaboration across departments.

There are many ways to localize instructional materials.

District leaders shared the unique approaches they took, and the different ways they collaborated with internal and external partners to customize curriculum at the right scale and in the right ways.

Focusing on local communities strengthens urban school systems.

Panelists spoke to the complexity of urban education and the ways in which their commitment to community-centric curriculum has changed their instructional landscapes.

A Shared Commitment to Urban Excellence

This session reinforced that innovation in urban education is built through aligned leadership and a shared commitment to inclusive, student-centered practices.

We are honored to have facilitated a space where educators could exchange ideas, celebrate progress, and inspire future action.