Become a Volunteer

Available in the United States ONLY

Be a part of something bigger—join a diagnostic review team

We’re looking for passionate, forward-thinking educators to join diagnostic review teams that visit select schools and provide focused, comprehensive assessments of how these schools engage with our rigorous Cognia Performance Standards and support student learning.

Educators rate their service on a review team as one of their most powerful professional development experiences because they:

  • Get an inside view: Observe other schools up close, work alongside experienced leaders, and see what works—and what doesn’t
  • Engage in empowering professional development: Gain powerful insights into instructional practices, leadership strategies, and school systems that can be immediately applied at home
  • Make a difference: Share your expertise to help schools improve outcomes for students
  • Earn CEUs: Fulfill requirements for continuing education units in a meaningful way

What to expect

  • Receive specialized training to prepare for the process
  • Engage in deep dives into classroom instruction, school culture, and data
  • Leave with fresh ideas, new professional connections, and a renewed sense of purpose
SIGN UP TODAY
99%
of schools noticed improvement in their use of data to identify improvement needs and priorities
98%
of schools reported a strengthened sense of collective ownership and commitment to improvement among their communities
94%
of volunteers strongly agree that this experience provided high-quality PD
Collaborating with others, evaluating existing systems, identifying inefficiencies, and proposing solutions enhanced by problem-solving skills. This experience deepened my professional growth and prepared me to support continuous improvement in my district.”
Dr. Terry Fludd
Director of K12 Innovation, District Professional Development and Secondary Math Content Coordinator
Orangeburg County School District, South Carolina
Participating on a Cognia Diagnostic Review team was truly a transformative professional experience. Collaborating with a diverse team of highly qualified educators from across various domains offered invaluable insight into the many ways leadership shapes student learning and system-wide success. The process challenged me to reflect deeply on how district leaders can continuously elevate their impact.”
Dr. Soraya Matthews
Chief of Unity, Belonging, and Student Efficacy
Fayette County Public Schools, Kentucky
Volunteering in a diagnostic review enhanced my understanding of triangulating achievement, survey, attendance, and behavior data with classroom observations to understand school culture and instruction. I’ve applied this knowledge in my own district by refining walkthroughs and guiding coaches and leaders to ask student-centered questions that inform coaching, support, and professional learning using both qualitative and quantitative data. ”
Robin Cornelius
Chief Operations Officer
Russellville Independent School District, Kentucky
The diagnostic review process was well-designed and sharpened my analytical thinking and data interpretation skills. It deepened my focus on student engagement, improved my evaluation of educational practices, and allowed me to witness strategic plans actively shaping classroom experiences. Overall, it enriched my ability to mentor teachers and administrator candidates and lead efforts that support confident, caring, and reflective educators.”
Dr. Teresa Poole
Dean of Education
William Carey University, Mississippi
It was a pleasure to be part of such important and meaningful work. I learned how to apply the Cognia Performance Standards to evaluate school effectiveness, align systems to improvement goals, and implement diagnostic tools that foster data-informed decision-making and sustained school transformation.”
Dr. Tauheedah Baker-Jones
Regional Director, Southeast
National Center for Education and the Economy (NCEE)

Frequently asked questions

Generally, volunteers should expect a 3 to 4-day commitment, depending on the state where the school resides and travel time.

Serving on a diagnostic review team is a valuable learning opportunity. Each member is required to complete specialized training prior to the review and will receive continued support throughout the process. The initial training consists of:

1. An online Canvas course, which introduces the key tools and resources used throughout the process.

2. A live or virtual training session that focuses on team member roles, responsibilities, and expectations for effectively engaging with the process and resources.

In some cases, state-specific training may also be required, depending on the location of the review. Additionally, all team members must be eleot-certified before serving on a review team.

While there is no compensation for participating as a Diagnostic Review team member, volunteers rate this opportunity as one of their best PD experiences. All expenses associated with travel for an onsite visit will be reimbursed by Cognia.

When we have opportunities to serve, we send a notice to all trained team members within driving distance to check on availability for participation.

Ready to make a difference?

SIGN UP TODAY