Our model of education advocacy is built around our belief in the transformational power of local leaders. The 50CAN leadership principles—PORCH—guide us as we navigate this terrain to reach our goal of a high-quality education for every child, regardless of address.

Plussing It

Borrowing a phrase from Walt Disney, we challenge ourselves to do great work and then go a step beyond that… and then a step beyond that. We strive for “better” and “best” in our work.

Optimism

We believe deeply in the American dream and our ability to foster real change in our states, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. We approach tough challenges with high spirits.

Relentlessness

We are dogged in pursuit of our mission and our goals. We don’t back down.

Candor

We are authentic about our challenges, mistakes and triumphs. We’re honest with others, and with ourselves.

Humility

We know we don’t have all the answers and that we can only succeed by constantly testing our assumptions, working in deep collaboration with others and grounding ourselves in diverse viewpoints from across our states. We learn from our successes and our failures and strive to constantly improve.