Talbot Consulting

Background Talbot Consulting (TC) is an education management consulting practice founded in 2006 by principal consultant, Leslie Talbot. Ms. Talbot is an education reformer with extensive experience leading innovative education initiatives. Talbot Consulting has served as a strategic partner to nonprofit, government and for-profit entities. Our core services include new school/program startups; school/program turnaround, leadership coaching and implementation solutions/improvements; and site evaluations and replications.   Key Accomplishments TC has an established record of strategic alliances with state and local education agencies, district and chartered schools, education management organizations, new school design teams and startups, established education institutions, and novice and veteran educators. Much of our work has focused on improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged, at-risk, out-of-school and disconnected youth. TC currently manages multiple school/program design, startup, leadership coaching, site replication, and/or growth projects. TC has designed programs for eight schools and nonprofits; managed/co-managed planning, startups, and openings for six schools; supported three charter renewals; conducted numerous school/program evaluations; guided more effective practice in many K-12 schools, out-of-school programs, and youth development organizations; provided leadership coaching and thought partnering for a number of school leaders; and secured private and government grants totaling upwards of $1M for various clients. To date, all projects have been completed within or under established budgets. Our Services Leadership Coaching and Strategic Partnering. We work as thought partners with our clients, providing guidance and innovative solutions to school and nonprofit leaders and boards; and state and local education agencies. Strengthen Organizational Capacity. We develop and support organizational improvement plans to strengthen school/program governance, leadership and management; confirm operations are mission- and data-driven; establish budget-to-program alignment; support human resource recruitment and selection; and ensure compliance and operational efficiencies. Facilitate School Turnaround through Site Evaluations. We conduct third-party, individual school or program site assessments; third-party cross-state school evaluations; and district portfolio manager or charter authorizer-sanctioned external school reviews and renewals. School/Program Design Work. We turn your vision into a comprehensive new school or program design resulting in district/charter proposals and/or expansions/replications of program models. Project Management. We create and drive a project work plan to support and extend the work of school developers and program operators into the new school startup or site replication space.  Resource Development and Acquisition. We create and implement fund development plans; identify and broker external resources for client programs; help increase funder awareness of program existence, goals, and objectives; and conduct external reviews of funding proposals. Guide Resource Allocation Practices. We develop school and/or program cost efficiencies through mission-driven, innovative human and fiscal capital resource allocations or reallocations.  External Relations and Development. We facilitate your establishment, cultivation and management of complex, multilevel relationships with funders, boards, elected officials, community- and faith-based organizations, media, state and local education agencies, and corporate friends.