S.4 | Ep. 4: Leading Change with Heart & Evidence with Stacey Cohen

In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud sits down with Stacey Cohen, Principal of Mesa View Elementary School, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Stacey shares how her team moved from the brink of turnaround to sustained performance—and most recently, national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School—by pairing research-based practice with a culture of dignity, partnership, and “leadership for all.”Together, Wendy and Stacey explore how Mesa View is deepening Tier 1 instruction, building daily SEL routines that stick, and redesigning student supports to keep learners connected. They also unpack how authentic family engagement and shared leadership fuel long-term improvement and community trust.Key Moments01:07 Inheriting a strong culture amid performance decline03:02 Moving from priority improvement toward success04:51 Six high-impact practices that shifted outcomes10:22 Replacing hallway removals with cozy corners16:01 Building daily SEL lessons and community circles19:22 Tackling chronic absenteeism after the pandemic23:29 From involvement to true family engagement26:20 Reimagining kindergarten onboarding27:50 Launching FLYT Club for families31:20 Empowering teachers through shared leadershipWhy You’ll Love This EpisodeThis is a grounded, inspiring story of turnaround done right. Stacey shows how a school can achieve lasting success—without new funding—through high-impact instruction, inclusion, and trust. If you’re passionate about leadership, systems change, and culture that uplifts everyone, this episode delivers powerful, practical takeaways.Connect with Principal Stacey CohenWebsite: https://mesaview.d51schools.org/ Follow UsWendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryorkLead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.comLead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/About Unlock 360°Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they’re turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement—one leader, one learner,