All children deserve to be seen, valued, and supported.
We help changemakers in schools and organizations create practical, research-informed solutions that positively impact student learning and well-being.
Transformation is tough. Our kids deserve it. And so do we.
What We Do
Data & Evaluation
We aren’t your conventional research & evaluation shop. We use our deep content knowledge to help your team think about and work with data differently. We are often called in for needs assessments, evaluations, and strategic planning… But really, we pride ourselves on making data come alive, stimulating meaningful conversations across teams, and using data to create a shared sense of purpose and clear plan for action.
Coaching & Training
Our coaching combines thought partnership, technical assistance, and practical guidance so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, and can lead with clarity and calm. We also offer training (workshops, ongoing professional development) to help teams integrate new practices and build on existing strengths, knowledge, and skills.
Storytelling & Engagement
The stories we tell about ourselves and others make up our world. We love using storytelling and data as tools for transformation and belonging. We specialize in crafting simple, beautiful, research-informed stories that center the human faces behind your initiative. We help our clients to engage community voices, showcase what they’re doing well, communicate progress, and demonstrate impact… all while creating warm, inclusive spaces.
Our Mission
We work with change makers who are reshaping the status quo to better serve students’ whole selves. We integrate the latest research and data to co-create practical solutions with educators, youth, and community leaders. Our clients use our services to strengthen, deepen, and expand their school transformation efforts.
Meet the Team
We are growing a team of heart-felt researchers and practitioners who relentlessly put students at the center. We bring a wide range of expertise and practical experience as teachers, administrators, human service providers, coaches, and scholars. We partner with a broad network of other affiliates when needed to assemble a “just right” team to support our clients.
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Founder and PrincipalKendra Fehrer, PhD is founder and principal of Heartwise Learning, an independent consultancy helping mission-driven organizations to better serve the whole child. She has served as a senior researcher at the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities at Stanford University and as Director of Research and Organizational Learning at the Community Schools Learning Exchange. Her current work focuses on strengthening community schools, newcomer education, family engagement, and school-based supports for mental health and well-being. She is the author of numerous articles and co-author of two books, including The Way We Do School: The Making of Oakland’s Full-Service Community School District (Harvard Education Press 2020). She holds a PhD in Anthropology from Brown University, and a BA and MA in International Development, Community, and Environment from Clark University.
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Senior Associate
Cristina Lash, PhD is an award-winning education researcher and coach. Prior to joining Heartwise Learning, she was a professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she taught numerous courses to aspiring school and district leaders on data-driven school improvement, curriculum and culture, and equity and social justice. She also served on a governor-appointed committee advising the Nevada Department of Education on policies and procedures to support English Learners across the state.
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Senior Associate
Mary Hofstedt, M.Ed has an extensive background in nonprofit leadership, curriculum and program design, social science research, and facilitation of cross-sector initiatives to benefit children and youth. Mary served as Interim Head of School at Peninsula School in Menlo Park, where she oversaw change-management and strategic plan implementation. Prior to Peninsula, she was a Schools Program Director with Challenge Success, led a coalition of partners to found a community arts center, and worked for over a decade with Stanford University’s John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities, where she facilitated community-based research projects and co-developed youth leadership and action-research curriculum downloaded by thousands of educators and NGO leaders. Mary also co-founded the North Fair Oaks Youth Initiative in San Mateo County. She is the parent of a recent college graduate, and is passionate about working with others to build vibrant schools and communities where all children are valued and connected.
Read our team’s latest research and publications
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The Way We Do School: The Making of Oakland's Full-Service Community School District
Discover the inspiring journey of Oakland, California, as it embarked on an ambitious mission to revolutionize its education system. Delve into the heart of the nation's most audacious community school initiative and witness the transformation of eighty-six district schools into vibrant community centers, catering to the diverse academic and personal needs of every student.
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Community Schools: Youth Voices for Equity
From principals to family members, from community partners to teachers, this book illustrates how together, we all have a part to play in the development of successful community schools. Our chapter on youth voice in community schools is particularly compelling!
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The District Role in Community School Development
This brief outlines the specific role districts must play to strengthen system-level supports and infrastructure to ensure sustainable resources, shared governance, robust and usable data systems, and organizational learning and improvement.
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District Supports for Community Schools: The Case of Oakland Unified School District
This study examines the district infrastructure that Oakland Unified School District (Oakland Unified) developed to support its community school and whole child education practices. The findings indicate that Oakland Unified provided centralized support for community schools that were critical to sustainable community school success. This brief highlights lessons learned for education leaders looking to build, implement, and sustain high quality community schools in policy and practice.
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EdSource Commentary: Lessons for Community Schools Evaluation
Learn about community schools evaluation and implications for the evaluators of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP).
