Project Overview
When The Culture Lab first connected with ZECCA School of Arts and Technology, the school was on the verge of closure. Years of underperformance, limited funding, and declining enrollment had left the community disheartened. Classrooms were half full, hallways lacked the energy of engaged learners, and the school’s reputation had deteriorated to the point that many families sought opportunities elsewhere. The school’s leaders were deeply committed educators, but they were fighting an uphill battle. Despite their experience in teaching, they lacked the strategic infrastructure, community partnerships, and leadership development systems necessary to reverse the decline.
In short, ZECCA School faced what many urban and rural schools across the country experience , a perfect storm of low resources, low morale, and low public trust. Without decisive intervention, the school was at risk of losing not only students, but its identity and purpose. That’s when The Culture Lab was invited to step in not as a consultant, but as a partner in transformation.
Our Approach
From the very beginning, our team at The Culture Lab understood that saving Zecca wasn’t simply about improving academics or increasing enrollment, it was about rebuilding confidence, restoring belief, and reimagining what was possible for students and staff alike.
We took a holistic, systems-aligned approach focused on five key priorities:
1. Restoring Pride and Presence
We started by addressing the physical and emotional environment of the school. Working closely with administrators, staff, and parent volunteers, we led a redesign of the school’s internal spaces, transforming hallways, classrooms, and shared areas into vibrant, student-centered environments that reflected creativity, belonging, and school pride. These changes, though aesthetic in nature, sent a powerful message: something new is happening here. Students and families immediately noticed the difference. The school no longer looked or felt like a place in decline, it felt like a place that was alive again.
2. Strengthening Leadership Capacity
The Culture Lab provided targeted coaching for the school’s leadership team, helping administrators shift from reactive management to proactive, strategic leadership. We introduced systems for instructional walkthroughs, data-driven decision making, and teacher feedback cycles, ensuring that academic improvement became both intentional and measurable. Through our Contagious Culture™ Leadership Framework, we emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence, communication, and authenticity, key traits for building trust among staff and families after years of instability.
3. Revitalizing Enrollment and Community Engagement
We developed and executed a comprehensive strategic marketing and communications plan to reshape public perception of ZECCA. This included storytelling campaigns, community events, and partnerships with local media outlets to share student and staff success stories. Simultaneously, we engaged directly with local government officials, businesses, and community organizations, building a coalition of supporters committed to the school’s success. These partnerships brought in new funding streams, mentorship programs, and enrichment opportunities for students that extended learning beyond the classroom.
4. Empowering Teachers and Reducing Turnover
Recognizing that teacher stability is central to school turnaround, we designed and implemented teacher retention and support strategies. This included professional learning communities (PLCs), recognition programs, and mentorship systems that connected veteran educators with new teachers. By creating pathways for professional growth and emphasizing wellness and belonging, we helped shift teacher morale from survival to purpose-driven engagement.
5. Rebuilding the Student Experience
We also prioritized the student voice. Through focus groups and listening sessions, we gathered input from students about what they wanted their school to feel like. This feedback informed everything from afterschool programming to elective course offerings, helping ensure that ZECCA’s transformation wasn’t imposed, it was co-created with the people it served.
Results
The transformation at ZECCA School of Arts and Technology was both rapid and profound. Within two years of The Culture Lab’s involvement:
Student achievement improved significantly, with measurable gains in literacy and math proficiency.
Enrollment rebounded, reaching full capacity and eventually waitlist status for the first time in the school’s history.
Teacher retention stabilized, as educators reported higher morale, clearer communication, and stronger support from leadership.
Community partnerships flourished, providing students with new access to technology, arts programming, and internship opportunities.
Public perception shifted, with the school once cited as “failing” now celebrated as a model of resilience and community-driven innovation.
Perhaps most importantly, ZECCA stayed open not as a struggling institution, but as a thriving, student-centered school with a renewed sense of mission.
Today, ZECCA is in the early stages of planning a new facility to accommodate growing enrollment and expanded programming in arts, technology, and career development. What was once a story of potential loss has become a story of rebirth and momentum.
