Concentric Educational Solutions

After 16 years of dedication, over 500,000 home visits, countless challenges, and unwavering perseverance, One Door at a Time is now available for purchase! This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the support and mentorship of Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, who has been more than just a mentor to me. He has been a guiding light, advocate, and an inspiration, imparting invaluable life lessons without uttering a single word.

“One Door at a Time” chronicles the origin, journey, and approach that Concentric has taken since it started in 2010. Simply by starting with the premise that the student should be the center of education, Concentrics’s dedication to knocking on doors to ask the question, “How can we be supportive?” is the embodiment of grass roots education.”  
Freeman A. Hrabowski III
President Emeritus, UMBC
American Council on Education, Centennial Fellow

Few People have impacted education more than Dr. Ladson-Billings. Her staunch advocacy and sacrifice for the equality and equity of underserved students is immeasurable. I am incredibly grateful and humbled by her willingness to provide Advance Praise for our book, One Door at a Time. Dr. Ladson-Billings is a living icon and a pillar for all educators to follow. 

“One Door at a Time, points to the vital connections among students, families, communities, and culture for ensuring that we truly educate our children and youth. The task is so much more than individual advancement, it is cultural survival, and this volume speaks directly to that. A must read!”
 
Gloria Ladson-Billings, Professor Emerita, FBA
Immediate Past President, National Academy of Education 
Fellow, The British Academy
Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Fellow, American Educational Research Association

In honor of Juneteenth, a very special advanced praise for Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. As a exceptional and fearless leader of NABSE, an advanced praise from Dr. Goffney is an honor not taken lightly!

“I am thrilled to endorse “One Door at a Time: How Putting Students at the Center of Education Works,” authored by Michael Gary Jr., Ph.D., David Heiber, and Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D. This impactful book offers a powerful narrative about Concentrics’s transformative work in urban education, emphasizing the urgent need to center the voices and experiences of marginalized students and their families.

The authors challenge traditional educational practices, highlighting the importance of building strong school-family partnerships and addressing systemic inequities that hinder student success. Their holistic approach underscores the necessity of supporting students’ social and emotional well-being alongside academic achievement.

Through their compelling storytelling, the authors share valuable lessons from Concentrics’s journey, advocating for a paradigm shift in how we approach education. This book is a must-read for educators, policymakers, and anyone committed to fostering equitable and empowering learning environments for all students.”

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent, Aldine ISD (Houston, TX)
President, National Alliance of Black School Educators

“One Door at a Time: The Story of Concentric and How Putting Students at the Center of Education Works is a compelling and much-needed contribution to the conversation on educational equity and transformation. Written by David Heiber, Ivory Toldson, and Michael Gary Jr., this book is both a call to action and a roadmap for reimagining how we educate students—particularly those from historically marginalized communities.
 
Drawing from an Afrocentric perspective and the real-world experiences of its authors, the book boldly challenges the systemic inequities embedded in traditional educational practices. It powerfully illustrates how Concentric’s student-centered approach places the integrated needs of young people—academic, social, emotional, and cultural—at the heart of school reform.
 
What sets this book apart is its unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of students and families. Through honest storytelling and practical insights, the authors make the case that trust, community partnerships, and culturally affirming practices are not just add-on, they are essential to student success.
 
One Door at a Time is more than a story of one organization’s evolution; it is an inspiring guide for educators, school leaders, policymakers, and advocates seeking to create transformative change. It offers not only a critique of what’s broken in education but also a vision for what’s possible when we choose to listen, care, and lead with equity at the center.
 
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who believes that education should serve all students—and is ready to be part of the change.”

Daryl E. Kennedy, Ed.D. 6/16
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and School Performance
Network 1- Secondary Schools
Anne Arundel County Public Schools

“One Door at a Time is an inspiring and practical look at how student-centered education can transform schools and communities. Written by authors closely tied to the work, the book tells the story of Concentric—an organization that places trust, equity, and partnership at the heart of learning.

With a strong focus on student and family voice, the book highlights the power of relationships, holistic support, and school-family collaboration. It challenges systemic inequities while offering real examples of how schools can become more inclusive, responsive, and just.

This is more than an educational model—it’s a vision for what’s possible when we put students first.”

Dr. Shaun C. Nelms
CEO Nelms Consulting Group
Vice President for Community Partnerships & Special Advisor to the President

“I met David Heiber more than a decade ago—at the very beginning of what would become one of the most powerful education movements I’ve witnessed. Even then, his vision was clear. This wasn’t just about improving schools—it was about healing, about justice, and about believing in students in a way that could truly change lives. As someone who grew up in Detroit and has spent my career in service of communities, I knew right away that his work needed to reach my hometown. That’s why I said yes to partnering with David and the Concentric team.
 
One Door at a Time is a call to action. It’s a vision for what happens when we build schools that see the whole child, honor family voice, and ground everything in love, accountability, and excellence. Concentric doesn’t separate academic rigor from emotional care—it brings them together, unapologetically.
 
Through powerful storytelling and grounded insight, David Heiber, Ivory Toldson, and Michael Gary remind us of what’s possible when equity isn’t a buzzword, it’s a daily commitment. For anyone who believes in the brilliance of our students: this book will move you and challenge you to act.”
 
Tiffany C. Taylor
Partner, Co-President, ASU+GSV
Former Executive Director, Teach for America–Detroit