Students

Left to Right: Simone Sangster (Graduate Assistant), Bob Peterkin (Program Director), Holly Weeks, Joel Boyd, Amalia Cudeiro, Irvin Scott, Pamela Brown, Frank Barnes, Rebecca Thessin, Janice Barclay, Leslie Boozer

Individuals with experience working in public schools who are committed to making a significant leadership contribution to our nation's urban schools are encouraged to apply. The most competitive candidates are individuals, working at the classroom, school building or district-wide level, whose commitment and capacity for developing and demonstrating high impact leadership are evidenced by the following:

1. a focus on student achievement
2. effectiveness in improving teaching and learning, especially for students with the greatest needs
3. a professional record of integrity and innovation
4. an academic record of excellence.

The program is especially interested in applicants who are people of color, women, and teacher leaders. Six to ten applicants are admitted each year.

Student Profiles

Left to Right: Greg Baker, Aurora Lora, Kenneth Salim, Ann Nkiruka Ifekwunigwe

14th Cohort

• Adams, Barbara
• Harvey, Miche
• Hermanns, Carl
• Huery, Shonda
• McPhetridge, Sean
• Walker, Petal

15th Cohort

• Baker, Greg
• Ifekwunigwe, Ann Nkiruka
• Lora, Aurora
• Salim, Kenneth

Left to Right: Lisa Pilaski, Nikolai Vitti, Jennifer Cheatham, David Lussier, Darienne Driver

16th Cohort

• Cheatham, Jennifer
• Driver, Darienne
• Lussier, David
• Pilaski, Lisa
• Vitti, Nikolai

17th Cohort

• Barnes, Frank
• Boozer, Leslie
• Boyd, Joel
• Brown, Pamela
• Scott, Irvin
• Thessin, Rebecca

Financial Assistance

Each first-year student in the Urban Superintendents Program receives a merit-based fellowship that covers the cost of tuition and some living expenses. Second-year students in the program receive similar stipends during the six-month internship to be used to cover relocation and living costs and tuition. Third-year students will receive funding to cover tuition expenses. All students who meet academic milestones by certain deadlines, such as the passing of the dissertation proposal and oral examination, in timely progress toward the completion of the dissertation, may also eligible for additional financial support in the form of need-based grants and fellowships.

Visit the Financial Aid Office

Applying to the Program

Applicants to the Urban Superintendents Program must follow the regular process application requirements of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A personal statement of purpose, transcripts of past academic work, test scores, and letters of recommendation must be submitted, along with a completed application form.

Visit the Admissions Office

1999 USP graduate Jean Murray, Superintendent, Stafford County (VA) Public Schools

"I am often amazed at how often I refer to research I read, classes I took or my personal research done for my dissertation while in the Urban Superintendents Program. Three things really stand out for me. First, the close friends and professional network I can rely on from all over the country. I can always pick up the phone and call a colleague. That alone is very comforting. The second thing is Dr. Elmore's politics and policy class. I live the big "p" and the little "p" every day. How great it is to have an idea of what is going on around me. Without that class, who knows? The third thing is how often I refer to my dissertation research on curriculum and high schools when talking with teachers and princpals. I really internalized the content and meaning of my research. I am honored to be a member of the growing cadre of USP members."
-Jean Murray