South Colonie Partners with The McLean Collective
The South Colonie Central School District announced today its plans to partner with The McLean Collective, a firm that helps organizations retain and grow their people and build a culture that lasts. The contract is expected to be approved at the November 10 Board of Education meeting.
Through the collaboration, members of The McLean Collective will work alongside district leadership, staff, students and community stakeholders to support South Colonie’s commitment to building cultural humility, equity and a more inclusive environment for all.
The focus of the work over the next 90 days will center around restorative circles at Colonie Central High School, bringing students and staff together in a safe space to process difficult experiences, share concerns, and work to rebuild trust.
Additionally, a districtwide community forum facilitated in collaboration with The McLean Collective will be scheduled in November to engage families and community stakeholders directly.
“As educators, our most critical responsibility is to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and valued within our school community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perry. “By partnering with The McLean Collective, we are taking deliberate and intentional steps to listen deeply to our students and staff, repair harm where needed, and strengthen our school climate from within. The planned restorative circles and community forum are vital opportunities to bridge understanding, build mutual respect, and work towards a path of healing.”
"I've always believed culture changes one person at a time — and when people feel valued, they stay, they grow, and they do their best work. I'm honored to partner with South Colonie to build that kind of culture, because when the adults in a district thrive, students do too," said Kathleen McLean, founder and CEO of The McLean Collective.
The work with The McLean Collective is one piece of a broader approach to strengthen school climate and keep communication open with students and families.
The McLean Collective partners with organizations to retain and grow their people and build cultures that hold through change. For more than 25 years, founder Kathleen McLean has worked across business, government, education, and the nonprofit sector, helping leaders create workplaces where people stay, grow, and do their best work.
“Real accountability is harder than consequences alone,” Perry added. “It requires looking people in the eye, understanding the impact of actions and doing the work to make things right. This work will take time, but we are fully committed to making South Colonie safe and welcoming for every student.”