Dr. Jewell-Sherman is a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Education's Urban Superintendents Program and has built a reputation over the past decade as one of the most successful urban district superintendents in the country. Prior to joining the Harvard Graduate School of Education's faculty, Dr. Jewell-Sherman served as superintendent of Richmond Public Schools with a track record of success that culminated in her being named Virginia Superintendent of the Year 2009 by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS). During her appointment, 95 percent of Richmond's lowest performing schools achieved full accreditation under Virginia's Standards of Learning reform legislation. In addition, the district improved from 18 percent to 91.7 percent of all schools meeting this standard as measured by the State Department of Education (2008). Currently, Dr. Jewell-Sherman serves as the Director of the Urban Superintendents Program and is the principal investigator for an initiative between the faculty of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. In the fall of 2010, Dr. Jewell-Sherman will serve as a key faculty member for HGSE's new Doctor of Education Leadership Degree (Ed.L.D).
Developing Educational Leadership Capacity in South Africa, World Bank, (2010-2011) The collaboration between UJ and HGSE will focus on building school leadership capacity to improve the quality of schooling in South Africa by Designing and implementing leadership training programmes for leaders at the school and Johannesburg district, and provincial levels; Developing a Principal Network aimed at providing ongoing support and training for school leaders, nationally and within the SADC region; Establishing an Education Leadership Institute that will be a learning lab and supporting institution for the ongoing professional development of school leaders; Identifying a research agenda on educational leadership, to be pursued over the 14-month project period and beyond.More specifically, HGSE faculty members will conduct these activities according to program themes:The Education Leadership Institute at the University of Johannesburg Work with UJ faculty members to expand their school leadership research agenda. Anticipated activities include conducting literature reviews to determine best practices in educational leadership, writing up case studies or caselets. The Principal Network Provide leadership and presentations using videoconference technology for members of the Principal Network when they convene in Johannesburg. Including, but not limited to, presentations in real time, co-facilitation of sessions with UJ faculty, online seminars. The Leadership Development Programme (in pilot form) Provide leadership, presentations, and facilitation for a 4-day institute to be held in Soweto in September 2010 Customize aspects of existing executive education institutes at HGSE so that UJ faculty, Johannesburg district officials, and provincial educational leaders may participate and apply learnings to their context. Coordinate training initiatives through a distance learning format and existing WIDE World coursework Assist UJ faculty to design and implement a coaching model to support school and district improvement efforts. Efforts could include on site visit to UJ and/or delivery through other technological means. (UJ has established a cadre of coaches and HGSE instructors held a preliminary training for these coaches on March 29, 2010)