Public Consulting Group (PCG) is proud to participate in the 2025 Council of the Great City Schools Curriculum, Research, and Instructional Leaders Conference, a national convening focused on real-world challenges and opportunities shaping urban education. This year’s conference brings together district leaders, content experts, and equity advocates 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”, showcases leading voices from council member districts who will share evidence-based strategies, implementation-tested practices, and community-informed approaches that strengthen instructional quality and improve student outcomes across curriculum and support systems.

July 9, 2.15 pm, Crystal Ballroom

Panelists Include:

• Jane Fleming, Director of Literacy, Chicago Public Schools
• Melissa Aviles Ramos, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools
• Mike Feeney, Executive Director, Elementary Education, Pinellas County Schools

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

What to expect from the session

Community needs drive curriculum innovation.

Panelists will discuss 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 will emphasize 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 will share 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 will speak 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 reinforces that innovation in urban education is built through aligned leadership and a shared commitment to inclusive, student-centered practices.