The Disruptive Educational Leader
innovative educational leaders only.
This cohort is specfically designed for education leadership looking to reimagine what good looks like in professional development for their faculty and staff.
This is NOT for leaders seeking safe programming that doesn't move the needle.
Catalyst Cohort rate: $1,000
"In 18 years, this is one of the best professional developments we've ever had. Totally worth it!"
Kat Coy, Counseling Department Chair, Knoxville Catholic High School
*Many participants expense this through their school's professional development or Title II budget. We can provide documentation to support that process.
The Problem
You are tirelessly looking for professional development that will actually move the needle in a meaningful way.
Your staff expresses concern that each professional development feels like a one-off. It feels like there is commitment to a theory, practice, or approach and then there's a new "flavor of the month" by the next PD... and well, they're probably right.
Applied improvisation fixes that. It builds the behaviors in the room (collaboration, communication, conflict-resolution, adaptability) through structured practice rather than instruction. It's not about the what, it's about the how.
And it transfers, because it was never just theory to begin with.
This is for you...
This cohort is designed for K–12 building leaders in independent and public schools — principals, AP's, and curriculum directors who own PD planning and feel frustrated with offerings that don't transfer learning back into the classroom.
You set the direction for how teachers grow in your building and you're ready to bring a methodology into your school that actually changes what happens in classrooms. Not a program that talks about empowerment, student voice, and character development; one that actually changes the game.
Most professional development misses on two fronts
Professional development keeps missing the mark. It's either all theory disseminated through slides and lectures (the opposite of classroom best practices) or it's all fluff; two truths and lie and scavenger hunts that have no intentional connection to what needs to happen in the classroom. The learning never transfers.
The Disruptive Educational Leader cohort takes best education practices and combines them with research-backed principles of applied improvisation to give you the tools to empower teachers and students alike.
We build PD for the room, not for the theory.
What's Included?
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Four live virtual training sessions — 90 minutes each
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Two live group coaching sessions — midpoint and close
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Asynchronous community for questions, practice, and peer connection between sessions
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A complete facilitation guide adapted for educational contexts
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A fall implementation roadmap built during your final coaching session
Cohort Details
6 weeks · June 30 – August 4, 2026
Cohort size: 12 educational leaders of independent schools
Delivery: Live virtual ·
All sessions recorded for async access
Total time commitment: 2-3 hours per week
Investment: $1,000- multiple payment options available
The 6-week Structure
All sessions are recorded in event you need to miss a week. This ensures pacing to ensure implementation of a plan for September.
Week
01
Tue, Jun 30
11:00 AM - 12:30PM(EST)
The Yes And Approach
Immediately learn the value of a "yes, and" approach to leadership, instruction, classroom management, and community culture. This session allows you to experience the impact through experience, by doing
Week
02
Tue, Jul 7
11:00 AM - 12:30PM(EST)
Application
Explore the the multitude of ways that a Yes And Approach and Applied Improvisation can practically show up in your halls and classrooms
Week
03
Tue, Jul 14
11:00 - 12:30PM AM (EST)
Failure Forum- Midpoint Coaching
First attempts, early questions, recalibration
Week
04
Tue, Jul 21
11:00 - 12:30PM AM (EST)
Begin the Build
In this session you'll take one core activity and adapt it for your September staff kickoff. This ensures you leave with something you can actually run, not just a concept to figure out later.
Week
05
Tue, Jul 28
11:00 AM - 12:30PM (EST)
Facilitation Practice
running activities, debriefing, handling resistance
Week
06
Tue, Aug 4
11:00 AM - 12:30PM (EST)
Play it Forward
Final guidance, implementation roadmap, next steps
By the end of the cohort you will...
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Walk away having experienced the methodology the way your teachers will: from the inside
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Know how to adapt and facilitate applied improvisation activities in your own PD sessions
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Have built a workshop of your own that you can utilize on day one of professional development
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Have a concrete fall implementation plan tied to your specific school context
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Be part of a community of educational leaders using the same framework
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Have a facilitation guide and resource library ready to use immediately
Most participants leave with a September PD session already mapped out. That's the bar.
About Will Dennis
Will Dennis is the founder of Unscripted Productions and a practitioner of applied improvisation with eight years of facilitation experience across corporate, nonprofit, and educational organizations. He's collaborated with Johnson and Johnson, Vanguard, Princeton University, BNY Mellon, and more to leverage applied improvisation for better communication, collaboration, conflict-resolution, resilience, agility, and creativity. He also teaches at Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, PA, which means he brings both practitioner expertise and direct classroom experience to every educational engagement. His work is built on a single belief: behavior doesn’t change through instruction. It changes through practice. The Disruptive Educational Leader Cohort is the direct application of that belief to professional development for school leaders.
What educators say after working with Will...
This workshop engaged every single teacher and staff member immediately. We were able to step outside of proscribed roles at our institution. This will allow us to see each other differently as we work together to support our students, and our community as a whole. Additionally, this workshop provided specific insights and strategies for engaging all of our students in new ways, so they can move beyond their expectations of themselves and each other. Will also was able to offer suggestions for using these tools in all kinds of classrooms, not just theater or English classes. I am using at least one of his activities on my first day of school this year, and am challenging myself to use others regularly throughout this school year. Highly recommend this program!
- Lisa Amesian, The Baldwin School
Join the
Catalyst Cohort
The Applied Educator Cohort runs June 30 – August 4, 2026.
Each participant in the cohort also gets a 30-minute 1:1 with Will after the cohort closes to shape the next iteration.
Space is limited to 12 participants by design.
Catalyst cohort rate: $1,000 · Full rate after founding cohort: $1,200
Full refunds available available up to 14 days before cohort begins
Not ready to commit yet?
Add your name to the waitlist. As long as you add your name before the founding cohort sells out, you'll lock in the founding cohort pricing for the future session.