We help Leaders do the hard, human work — and do it well.
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MEET THE FOUNDER
Craig Aarons-Martin
is an award-winning educator, nationally recognized school leader, and Founder and CEO of CCM Education Group, where he partners with schools and organizations to build cultures of belonging, strengthen leadership capacity, and drive meaningful, sustainable change. With experience spanning the classroom, principalship, district leadership, and national consulting, he brings a rare blend of strategic expertise, practical tools, and deeply human leadership to every engagement.
A former National Distinguished Principal and state Principal of the Year, Craig is known for helping leaders move from vision to implementation—equipping them to build trust, navigate complexity, and lead communities where students and adults thrive. Whether coaching executives, facilitating professional learning, or delivering keynote addresses, he creates spaces where leaders feel both challenged and empowered to grow.
He is the author of The Brave Leaders Playbook (releasing March 7, 2026), a practical guide for leading with clarity, courage, and purpose. Organizations partner with Craig not only for his insight, but for his ability to translate bold ideas into actionable strategies that transform culture, leadership, and outcomes.
OUR HEARTWORK
Why We Exist
CCM Education Group exists to support leaders who are tired of watching good intentions fall apart at the point of implementation. We help schools, districts, and non-profits build human-centered systems that strengthen culture, increase staff trust, and make belonging a daily practice - not just a value statement.
Who This Work Is For
Coaching is a fit if you are…
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leading in complexity (turnover, initiative fatigue, tension, “one more thing”)
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rebuilding trust with staff, families, or a leadership team
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ready for honest reflection + clear accountability
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committed to culturally grounded, human-centered leadership that becomes daily practice
Professional Development is a fit if your team needs…
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a shared language for belonging and brave leadership
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adult learning that becomes implementation (not inspiration-only)
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practical tools for coaching, culture-building, and follow-through
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support navigating heavy conversations while keeping the space productive
What Working With Us Feels Like
When leaders reach out to me, it’s usually not because they don’t care—it’s because they care and they’re tired of watching the work stall at implementation. My job is to help you tell the truth about what’s happening, align your leadership moves with your values, and build practical routines that your people can actually carry.
We:
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We get clear: surface the real barriers—trust gaps, misalignment, unspoken culture.
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We get aligned: connect decisions to identity, values, roles, and expectations.
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We move: translate strategy into weekly habits, actions, and follow-through.
How Coaching Works
Our coaching methodology is the G.U.M.B.O.™ approach—a grounded, culturally rooted structure that helps leaders move from insight → practice → sustained change.
Testimonial from One Of Our Partners
"As a leader of a nonprofit, Craig's mentorship in school culture work has been transformative. His approaches have helped us create programs that are not only inclusive but also deeply resonate with the communities we serve."
- Julia F.
Executive Director, Youth-Serving Organization
Proudly Certified:
Centering Belonging and Thriving In Every Organization We Serve
