January 2026 | Introducing GSW Education Partners | The Practitioner's Pulse Vol. 1 Skip to main content

From the Desk of GSW Education Partners

This Is Why We Started GSW Education Partners

"We did not build GSW Education Partners because we had a gap in our calendar. We built it because we kept watching districts and programs struggle with challenges we had already solved. We had the tools and relationships to help."

GSW Education Partners officially launched in January 2026. The three of us, Gabe, Simone, and Will, have spent a combined 40+ years inside K-12 and out-of-school time programs. Not as consultants looking in from the outside. As program directors, curriculum writers, staffing coordinators, and district administrators who dealt with the same budget pressures, staffing gaps, and compliance demands you face every day.

This first edition of The Practitioner's Pulse is an introduction to who we are, what we do, and how we think. Every edition going forward will bring you practical research, tools, and analysis you can use the same week you read it.

In This Edition
  1. Who We Are
  2. Our Service Model
  3. Our Equity Commitment
  4. The Practitioners Behind the Work
  5. What to Expect in 2026
GSW Editorial Team · January 2026 · The Practitioner's Pulse

Who We Are

40+ Years Inside K-12 Programs. Not Advising from the Outside.

40+
Combined years inside K-12 and OST programs GSW Education Partners brings director-level field experience in afterschool programming, curriculum development, talent acquisition, and district operations. Not just advisory work.

Gabe spent 15 years running 21st CCLC programs in high-need districts across the Mountain West. Simone led professional development and curriculum design for a regional education service agency supporting 40+ school districts. Will built and scaled hiring pipelines for education organizations and EdTech companies with more than 12,000 hires made under his tenure.

We started GSW because the problems are solvable. The gap is not knowledge. Most district leaders we talk to understand the problem clearly. The gap is time, capacity, and having the right partnership to move from knowing to doing.

What We Do

Four Ways to Engage With GSW Education Partners

We work with districts, afterschool networks, recreation departments, and youth-serving organizations. Our engagement model is built around what you actually need, not a one-size-fits-all package.

12hr
Essential Advisory For districts that need expert guidance on a specific challenge: staffing strategy, grant readiness, or program evaluation, without a long-term engagement commitment.
20hr
Strategic Growth For organizations building toward a defined goal over 2-4 months. Includes assessment, planning, implementation support, and regular strategic check-ins.
40hr
Signature Transformation Our flagship engagement for organizations ready for deep partnership. Full assessment, multi-track implementation, staff development, and ongoing accountability structures.
Custom
Built for You Enterprise engagements, multi-district partnerships, and long-term retainer arrangements designed around your specific context and goals.

All engagements start with a free Discovery Call. No pitch deck, no obligation. We want to know what you are working through before we talk about how we can help.

Our Commitment

We Work With the Districts That Need It Most

We made a deliberate decision when we built GSW: we would prioritize work with high-need districts, Title I schools, and organizations serving the students with the fewest resources and the greatest barriers. Not because it is the only work we do, but because it is the work that matters most to us.

Practical equity is not a tagline for us. It is a criteria we apply when deciding how to price our work, who we take on as clients, and what problems we prioritize. Every engagement we take on has to pass a simple test: does this help kids who need it?

From Gabe, Simone, and Will

Thank You for Being Here

If you are reading this, you are probably someone who cares deeply about the students and programs you serve. We built The Practitioner's Pulse for you: not as a marketing tool, but as a genuine resource. Every issue will bring you data, frameworks, and ideas you can act on.

We would love to hear from you. If something in this edition resonated, if you have a challenge you are working through, or if you just want to say hello, reach us at contact@gsweducationpartners.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GSW Education Partners and who do you serve?
GSW Education Partners is a K-12 consulting firm built by practitioners with 40+ years of combined program leadership experience. We serve school districts, recreation departments, and youth-serving organizations across all 50 states, with a focus on afterschool, summer, and out-of-school time programs.
What makes GSW Education Partners different from other K-12 consultants?
We were built by people who ran programs, not people who observed them. Our team has led 21st CCLC programs, managed district-level operations, and worked directly with the communities we now consult for. That inside experience changes the quality and relevance of the recommendations we make.
How does GSW Education Partners approach equity in K-12 consulting?
We prioritize work with high-need districts, Title I schools, and organizations serving students with the greatest barriers to access and success. Equity is not a framework we apply after the fact — it is the reason we chose this work and the lens through which we evaluate every recommendation.
What types of K-12 programs does GSW Education Partners work with?
We work with 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), Title I school districts, afterschool and summer programs, recreation departments operating youth programs, and nonprofits providing out-of-school time (OST) services. If your program serves K-12 students, we likely have relevant experience.
How can my organization start working with GSW Education Partners?
The first step is a free 60-minute consultation. We use that time to understand your program, identify your highest-leverage opportunity, and outline what a potential engagement would look like. There is no obligation and no sales pressure — just an honest conversation about whether and how we can help.

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