DoWEA Europe leaders set direction for upcoming school year at region’s annual summit
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Department of War Education Activity’s Europe regional leaders united around key priorities for a student-focused school year during the summer Leadership Summit held July 27-31 at Kaiserslautern High School on Vogelweh Military Complex.
DoWEA Director Paul Craft and Chief Academic Officer Tiffany Hoban joined regional leaders throughout the week, engaging directly with administrators to share enterprise-level priorities and strategic goals for the coming year and beyond.
The summit featured focused professional development sessions led by the region’s Center for Instructional Leadership. The summit followed the release of the organization’s refined Blueprint for Continuous Improvement, a framework designed to advance student achievement, strengthen family partnerships, and prepare students for an ever-changing future.
Europe Director for Student Excellence Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney outlined her vision for the 2026-27 school year, highlighting an elevated focus on literacy, strong teacher-led instruction, and increased family engagement.
“As I look around this room, I see a team with much to celebrate and even greater opportunity ahead,” said Brahaney, stressing the importance of leading through changes designed to strengthen the school system, increase coherence, and better support students. “We are entering a year of growth, possibility, and continued improvement.”
Focusing on the Blueprint pillar of Instructional Excellence, Brahaney challenged leaders to keep student outcomes at the center of every decision.
“Excellent instruction always asks, ‘Will this improve the outcome for our students,’ and we are united in purpose that this school year will see real measurable gains as we analyze, assess and adjust in every classroom across every school in the region,” Brahaney stated.
To support these goals, regional leaders introduced several new initiatives, including the creation of a Regional Instructional Support Council and Family Stakeholder Engagement Officer positions. Both efforts aim to strengthen instructional practices and foster deeper connections between schools and families.
Lastly, Brahaney encouraged leaders to prioritize authentic, two-way communication with families and stakeholders, emphasizing that strong relationships are foundational to student success.
“People remember how we communicate, how we listen, and how we respond,” Brahaney reminded attendees.
With a renewed sense of purpose, regional leaders left the summit committed to turning strategy into action. By focusing on high-quality instruction, meaningful family engagement, and data-informed decision-making, schools across Europe are positioned to accelerate student achievement in the year ahead.
