(40) Partnership in Practice: Leveraging Advisory to Build Durable Skills, Foster Community and Drive Academic Success

8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2026 ‐ 1 hour

Room: Conifer (1,2,3)

Quality: Academics

Charter schools across the nation are navigating urgent challenges and at Rocky Mountain Prep (RMP), these realities are felt acutely. Over 96% of middle school students identify as students of color, more than 80% qualify for free/reduced lunch, and 1 in 5 receive special education services. Chronic absenteeism is currently 33% YTD. Meeting these challenges requires more than closing academic gaps; it means equipping students with the skills, mindsets, and relationships they need to thrive.

In fall 2025, Rocky Mountain Prep (RMP) launched a new partnership with nXu, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing purpose, durable skills, and wellbeing. All middle school students across five campuses now engage in twice-weekly nXu advisory lessons. Organized around four thematic arcs, this curriculum helps students articulate who they are, what they care about, and how to set long-term goals aligned with their personal values.

This session will share RMP’s experience with network-wide implementation, including why they chose to embed durable skills into advisory, how the rollout was designed, and what early impacts they’re seeing on students, educators, and culture. Attendees will leave with both strategic insights and concrete tools for embedding SEL, purpose, and durable skills into advisory or similar structures — without sacrificing academic time. Sample nXu lessons will be available upon request after the session.

Speakers

Amy Mallo

Director of Mental Health & Student Culture, Rocky Mountain Prep

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Briana Anderson

Partnership Support Advisor, nXu

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Amy Mallo

Director of Mental Health & Student Culture, Rocky Mountain Prep

Amy Mallo is currently the Director of Mental Health at Rocky Mountain Prep, where Amy also serves as the Network Mental Health Team Lead and School Social Worker. Previously, Amy held various roles at STRIVE Prep before the merger with Rocky Mountain Prep in July 2023. Amy also worked as a Recruitment Ambassador at Westminster Public Schools, a Special Education Paraprofessional, and Clinical Social Work Intern at Denver Green School, as well as a Corps Member at City Year. Amy holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Colorado State University

: linkedin.com/in/amymallo

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Briana Anderson

Partnership Support Advisor, nXu

Briana Anderson is a dedicated professional committed to advancing meaningful impact within her field. She brings a strong blend of strategic thinking, collaboration, and results-driven execution to her work, consistently focusing on growth, innovation, and community engagement. Known for her ability to build relationships and lead initiatives with clarity and purpose, Briana approaches her work with both professionalism and passion.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and thoughtful leadership, helping teams and organizations move forward with confidence and direction. Whether guiding projects, supporting stakeholders, or developing new opportunities, Briana is driven by a desire to create lasting, positive outcomes.