About EdCo
The Education Collaborative of Western New York (EdCo) was established in 1998 as the Buffalo Independent Secondary School Network (BISSNET). Created in partnership with The John R. Oishei Foundation, the organization brought together private and independent high schools across Western New York to collaborate around common challenges, share resources, and create opportunities that benefit students and educators. In 2015, BISSNET became the Education Collaborative of Western New York, reflecting the organization’s evolving and expanding role in the region.
From its earliest years, collaboration has been at the heart of EdCo’s work. The organization initially played a critical role in facilitating funding from the Oishei Foundation to strengthen technology infrastructure and educational resources across Partner Schools. EdCo also helped establish the Oishei High School Scholarship in 1998. Since its inception, the scholarship has provided more than 400 students with over $30 million in financial support.
Over the years, EdCo has continued to bring schools together around shared opportunities and challenges, including STEAM education, technology integration, professional development, shared purchasing, educational research resources, and collaborative networks for faculty, staff, and school leaders.
Beginning in 2017, EdCo expanded its work with Partner Schools to help create schools where every student feels a sense of belonging. With support from The John R. Oishei Foundation, The Cullen Foundation, and other community partners, EdCo has developed professional learning opportunities for educators, student leadership programs, instructional coaching, a network of educators, school climate surveys, and immersive educational experiences for students and educators.
In 2024, the EdCo Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan designed to build upon this history of collaboration while expanding the organization’s reach, partnerships, and impact. As part of this new direction, EdCo is opening membership to new schools for the first time in many years, creating opportunities to grow the collaborative beyond its longstanding Partner Schools. This expansion reflects EdCo’s commitment to bringing more educators, students, and school communities together while building a stronger and more connected educational network across Western New York.
Our New Mission
EdCo facilitates collaboration among educators, students, and community partners to learn, share, and connect to build a just and thriving future.
Today, that mission is reflected in an expanding portfolio of programs and partnerships. EdCo supports educators through professional learning and the Emerging Teachers Institute (ETI); connects schools and organizations through collaborative networks and shared services; develops student leadership through conferences and immersive learning experiences, including visits to the Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Sites and Selma, Alabama; and builds connections between schools, nonprofits, businesses, and other community partners.
EdCo is also expanding access to professional learning through Kinvera, our online learning platform designed to connect educators, schools, nonprofits, and content creators with meaningful learning opportunities and resources.
As EdCo looks to the future, our work continues to evolve—but our purpose remains rooted in what brought our schools together in 1998: the belief that we can accomplish more when we work together. By creating opportunities to learn, share, connect, and collaborate, EdCo is building a stronger educational community and helping students, educators, schools, and partners across Western New York thrive.
Guiding Principles
Learn
- Empower Educators and School Leaders through dynamic professional development, coaching, mentorship, and collaborative learning communities.
- Elevate Student Voice through leadership conferences, educational immersion programs, civic engagement, and leadership development.
- Leverage Technology to expand access to high-quality, flexible, and inclusive learning opportunities through synchronous and asynchronous models.
Share
- Strengthen School Communities by facilitating affinity groups, shared purchasing agreements, and hiring pipelines.
- Reduce Barriers to Participation through targeted grant opportunities, scholarships, and financial aid.
Connect
- Foster Strategic Partnerships between and among schools, educators, nonprofits, businesses and funders to build a sustainable, collaborative educational network.
- Link educators, students, families, and community partners through programs that inspire learning, leadership, and community growth.
Organizational Values
Collaboration
We believe in the power of partnerships and collective action to drive learning and sustainable growth.
Learning and Leadership Development
We nurture continuous learning for students, educators, and communities, recognizing that lifelong learning is dynamic, leads to growth, and essential for leadership.
Belonging
We intentionally create inclusive spaces where every student, educator, and partner feels respected, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Innovation
We embrace new ideas, tools, and approaches to meet evolving educational needs and opportunities.
Courage
We lead with conviction and take bold steps to challenge inequities, pursue justice, and shape a more inclusive future for education.
Excellence
We hold ourselves and our partners to high standards, striving for quality and integrity in everything we do.
