The Office of School Partnerships

Boston Public Schools Leadership Development Network

Archived Information (Note:The LDN concluded its programs in 2003. Information below is on previous work.)

• Mission and History
• Advisory Board
• Participating Schools
• Professional Development Activities
  • Summer Institute
  • Full Group Sessions
  • Seminars
  • Bank of America (formerly Fleet) Forum Lecture Series
  • Cross-Site Visits
• Technical Assistance and Consultations
  • Consultations Provided by Harvard Doctoral Students
  • Curriculum Consultants

Mission and History

Begun in 1997, the Boston Public Schools Leadership Development Network is a five-year professional development and technical assistance partnership between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and twelve Boston Public Schools (BPS) -- 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. The FleetBoston Financial Foundation funds the LDN.

The mission of the LDN is to develop the leadership capacity of school-based teams (composed of teachers and administrators) to improve student achievement. Directed by Harvard Graduate School of Education's Office of School Partnerships, the LDN works closely with a number of Boston public schools to understand the challenges they face and to respond to their needs. The LDN creates opportunities for the school teams to collaborate with and learn from Harvard faculty, doctoral students, and professional development offices. As a result, members of the Harvard University community have put their research into action by becoming close partners with the Leadership Development Initiative and the LDN schools. More importantly, the school teams gain an instrumental resource as they strive to improve student achievement.

Every school in Boston is responsible for phasing in a "Whole School Improvement Process" over a course of multiple years. The depth and complexity of this process of change, while providing excellent opportunities for teachers and administrators to improve student achievement, poses many challenges. The LDN seeks to support teachers and administrators as they address these challenges by continuing to reinforce leadership skills, buiLDNng and sustaining relationships across functions, and providing practical tools for aligning instruction and curriculum in the classroom.