BayCoast Bank has provided a $60,000 grant to support the Lynch Leadership Academy South Coast Micro-Academy, a collaborative educational initiative between Fall River Public Schools, New Bedford Public Schools, the Diocese of Fall River, and independent and charter schools in New Bedford and Fall River.
Lynch Leadership Academy (LLA), a joint effort between the Carroll School of Management and the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College, is a collaborative, cross-sector community of principals and school leaders from Greater Boston and gateway cities across Massachusetts. The Academy supports sitting principals and aspiring principals from district, charter, Catholic and independent schools in acquiring educational and executive leadership skills and in building a network that confronts urgent issues facing urban education.
The Micro-Academies focus intensively on specific aspects of executive and educational leadership; with financial support from BayCoast Bank, the Carney Family Charitable Foundation and several other funders, LLA will design and implement a year-long Micro-Academy for a selected, cross-sector group of twelve school leaders from the Fall River and New Bedford school districts, the Diocese of Fall River, and independent and charter schools in New Bedford and Fall River. The program will run for three consecutive years, with different participants having the opportunity to be selected each year.
The Carney Family Charitable Foundation serves as a catalyst and resource for organizations to expand and sustain their capacity to build equitable and vibrant communities, with a focus on Greater New Bedford. As longtime supporters of Boston College, the Carney Family Charitable Foundation is happy to support the important work of Boston College’s Lynch Leadership Academy to build the capacity of education leaders in New Bedford and Fall River through the Lynch Leadership South Coast Micro-Academy and Fellowship.
"We are thrilled to work with leaders on the South Coast, from across all three sectors, to support them in building their capacity to lead their buildings through important, even transformative, change that leads to increased achievement for all students,” said Jenne Colasacco, Executive Director, Lynch Leadership Academy. “The support from BayCoast Bank helps to allow us to provide not just professional development but one-on-one coaching to all participants, which increases the pace and effectiveness of these important change efforts."
Glenn Oliveira, Director of Foundation Programs for the Carney Family Charitable Foundation, said, “We greatly appreciate BayCoast Bank’s work to elevate the importance of education in the South Coast, and their support of the innovative Lynch Leadership Academy’s South Coast Micro-Academy. BayCoast Bank has taken the lead on a number of education initiatives in the South Coast and we look forward to continuing to partner with them to support education in our region.”
“The South Coast of Massachusetts is home to many schools whose leadership has direct impact on students,” said Nicholas Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Bank. “The proposed LLA South Coast Micro-Academy will serve to build a strong network of effective school leaders within our region; we are proud to provide a grant for this special program.”
About BayCoast Bank
BayCoast Bank is mutually-owned, serving the needs of consumers, businesses, non-profits and municipalities through 20 branches and three loan offices throughout southeastern MA and RI. Additional services are offered through the Bank’s affiliates: BayCoast Financial Services, Plimoth Investment Advisors, Partners Insurance Group, LLC, BayCoast Mortgage Company, LLC, and Priority Funding LLC. Nicholas Christ is the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Visit www.BayCoastBank.com or call 508-678-7641 or 888-806-2872.
