Boston Prep Case Study
Boston Prep Case Study
How Boston Prep Strengthened Instruction Through Leader-Led Coaching
Partner Snapshot
Organization
Boston Prep is a tuition-free public charter school in Hyde Park, MA that prepares students to succeed in four-year colleges and embody, in thought and action, lifelong ethical growth
Student Demographics:
Approximately 700 6th-12th grade students across two campuses, with diverse needs including multilingual learners and students with IEPs.
Partnership
Boston Prep is a tuition-free public charter school in Hyde Park, MA that prepares students to succeed in four-year colleges and embody, in thought and action, lifelong ethical growth
Student Demographics: Approximately 700 6th-12th grade students across two campuses, with diverse needs including multilingual learners and students with IEPs.
Partner:
Dr. Robert Rametti, Chief Academic Officer
Engagement Duration:
2 years of partnership with VJR Consulting Firm
Engagement Type:
Monthly coaching and quarterly school visits
The Challenge
Navigating Significant Leadership Transition
The Context
When Dr. Robert Rametti stepped into the Chief Academic Officer role, Boston Prep was navigating significant complexity. The school had reached its enrollment cap during COVID, experienced leadership turnover, and was in only its second year with a newly defined academic vision. As he entered his second year in his role, he asked himself:
"How do you move from coaching as a compliance activity to coaching as a meaningful leadership lever, while building systems leaders can sustain?"
Fragmented approaches, uneven quality, and systems fatigue made it difficult to ensure that instructional feedback was consistent, rigorous, and actionable across the network. The challenge was not whether coaching was happening. It was whether coaching was actually improving instruction across two campuses, with multiple leaders, during a period of constant change.
The VJR Approach
VJR Consulting partnered with Boston Prep for two consecutive years to help build coherence, quality, and sustainability in instructional coaching.
The Engagement
Year 1: Foundation
In the first year, the focus was on establishing clear systems and expectations. This included standardizing observation and feedback processes and ensuring coaching was happening consistently.
Year 2: Deepening
In year two, the work deepened. Rather than simply implementing a system, leaders learned how to adapt it, apply it, and make it their own. VJR supported Dr. Rametti and his leaders in improving the quality of coaching conversations and strengthening weekly data meetings so leaders could better connect instructional practice to student outcomes.
The engagement included monthly coaching with VJR consultant Jesse Corburn, alongside quarterly school visits to ensure alignment between day-to-day execution and long-term academic vision.
Dr. Rametti (left) engages in action planning with his VJR Coach, Jesse Corburn, during a campus visit.
The Experience
What distinguished VJR's work was not just the tools, but the philosophy behind them. VJR emphasizes practice-based coaching, systems leaders can maintain without consultants, and coaching as a core leadership responsibility rather than a box to check. The work flexed based on real conditions inside the school, without losing clarity around what strong instruction requires.
"There was not a single challenge or obstacle that I brought to VJR that they didn't have a resource for. The team truly had my back at every turn."
What Set VJR Apart
What mattered most wasn't just the frameworks. It was how VJR balanced clarity, adaptability, and lived leadership experience in moments where other consultants often default to rigid approaches.
"What I appreciate most is the adaptability. Some organizations have one rigid way of doing things. That's not VJR."
The Impact
Transforming Leadership & Student Outcomes
The most meaningful shift was a move from fragmented coaching practices to a shared, coherent vision of what strong coaching looks like.
Leaders developed a common language and clearer expectations for feedback. Coaching conversations became more consistent and more focused on instructional improvement, rather than surface-level compliance.
One moment that stood out for Dr. Rametti was observing a coaching conversation led by one of his school leaders. He expected to need to intervene. Instead, he saw a thoughtful, balanced conversation that included both affirmation and clear instructional next steps.
At the middle school level, where leaders had been engaged in the work longer, academic outcomes reflected this shift. Teacher performance ratings improved across the board, with many educators consistently reaching higher levels on instructional rubrics. This shift has begun to translate into stronger learning experiences for students, with early indicators pointing to improved academic outcomes.
VaLonda Harris, Chief Equity and Engagment Officer giving real-time feedback to a teacher during a VJR Site Visit
Yvie DaLexis, Assistant Principal, monitoring student work in real-time during a VJR Site Visit
VaLonda Harris, Chief Equity and Engagment Officer giving real-time feedback to a teacher during a
VJR Site Visit
Yvie DaLexis, Assistant Principal, monitoring student work in real-time during a VJR Site Visit
Long-Term Value
The work with VJR has continued to influence how leaders at Boston Prep think about coaching and leadership.
Over time, VJR's tools evolved alongside the school's needs, reflecting Dr. Riley's expertise as a practitioner and leader. What began as an implementation of established frameworks became a more nuanced, experience-informed approach tailored to Boston Prep's environment.
The result is a coaching system that leaders understand, trust, and can sustain.
Testimonials
Ms. Christian has shared that she is not sure she would have achieved the same level of impact without the support of VJR Consulting Firm, and she is grateful she did not have to find out. She rates the partnership a 10 out of 10 and looks forward to continued collaboration.
"When you have people who have lived this work, they can get more nuanced and really help you troubleshoot."
"What I appreciate most is the adaptability. Some organizations have one rigid way of doing things. That's not VJR."
"Jesse meets you where you are. He's flexible, approachable, and knows when to pivot between building PD and supporting delivery."
The Bottom Line
Dr. Rametti rates his likelihood of recommending VJR Consulting a 10 out of 10, citing the team's adaptability, expertise, and unwavering focus on what actually moves schools forward.
Ready to Transform your School or District?
This Work Is a Strong Fit For Schools or Districts That:
Want to build leadership capacity across campuses—not just provide one-time training
Are navigating instructional change and need aligned, practical support
Need systems that translate into consistent classroom practice
Are looking for professional learning that is actionable, not theoretical
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