Dear Friends of ASSET,

 

Like many in the nonprofit education community, ASSET is feeling the weight of overwhelming uncertainty around federal, state, and local education funding. As a result, we reached a critical crossroads in our 33-year-long journey. After careful consideration, we must make the difficult yet responsible decision to close operations.

 

For three decades, we have been your trusted partner in professional learning.  We deeply appreciate the opportunities to partner and collaborate with so many along the way to help Achieve Student Success through Excellence in Teaching.

 

While this was not an easy choice, we agree it is time for ASSET to graciously step aside and celebrate its successes. We are proud of the systemic education reform initiatives we have implemented since 1992, starting with corporate and community seed money to get started locally in two Pittsburgh-area school districts, followed by two NSF grants to expand to SWPA, then a 5-year partnership with the PA Department of Education to deliver Science: It’s Elementary statewide, and then a 5-year U.S. Department of Education Investing in Innovation grant to increase access to professional development in rural communities.

 

Along the way, many supporters have enabled ASSET to design and deliver cutting-edge professional learning, anchoring educators in experiential, inquiry-based teaching. Together, through collaborations and partnerships, we’ve provided more than 700K hours of educator professional development to more than 75K teachers across the nation – impacting 1.7M students. Every step of the way, evaluations demonstrated progress and proficiency.

 

We recognize with gratitude the great gifts funders provided ASSET to evolve and adapt to ever-changing education needs, including our most recent shift to support pre-service educators. Since 2021, ASSET has worked with 10 schools of education to help prepare nearly 450 of our future educators through coaching, virtual field experiences, and a summer residency. PALS (Partnerships to Advance Learning Systems) was a first-of-its-kind initiative bringing together higher education, Out-of-School-Time organizations, and families to help two sets of learners thrive. In total, pre-service educators earned 5,275 credit hours, 3,450 field experience hours, and 1,850 hours of coaching while providing critical virtual tutoring support to 642 Pittsburgh-area children.  

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ASSET's triumphs are hoisted by the hundreds of employees who, over the years, poured their hearts into our great experiment. Their efforts resulted in groundbreaking work that would bring inquiry to the forefront of learning. Guided by the tenets of intrepid founders, they navigated uncertainty and met naysayers with steadfast confidence and unwavering belief in the work.

 

As we close the final chapter, our legacy will continue through our chief educator, Dr. Deborah Luckett (drdeborah@dmluckettconsulting.org), who is available for consultation with like-minded professional learning organizations, schools/districts, institutions of higher education, community networks, etc. Through Deborah, ASSET’s mission to advance teaching and learning will live on in the best way possible as she continues to impart the essence of ASSET’s knowledge and learning philosophies.  Much work is yet to be done, and we support those continuing the effort.

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​To all who championed ASSET's work, you will forever be woven into the millions of lives we impacted -- and we thank you.

 

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Sarah Toulouse

Executive Director

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