What You Will Learn

Gain the tools, frameworks and leadership techniques needed to step into a leadership role, build and sustain effective learning environments, and improve instructional excellence.

Program Overview

New school leaders must be ready and able to assume the role of instructional champion—working on many fronts to improve and sustain student achievement. At the same time, they need to manage the academic development of a changing school population and accelerate the development of teachers. These initiatives require school leaders to focus on the management of resources as well as the ongoing renewal of school culture.

New and Aspiring School Leaders will prepare you for the many leadership challenges of American schools today. You will examine these challenges from the ground up, and clarify your vision of an effective school and your role in leading it. Working closely with faculty and seasoned practitioners, you will define your core values and understand how they can help you promote educational excellence.

Program Objectives

• Assume a leadership position with a vision for success
• Improve instruction through effective teacher supervision and evaluation
• Foster curriculum collaboration among the faculty
• Utilize resources and time to maximize student achievement
• Discover ways to support all learners in your classrooms
• Achieve community support for your school's mission

Who Should Attend

• School leaders in the first one to two years of the principalship
• Educators anticipating a leadership position over the next one to two years
• Members of the school community who are entering or plan to enter leadership roles, including teacher-leaders, department heads, assistant principals, assistant heads, division heads, curriculum coordinators and other members of the school community interested in expanding their leadership skills

Faculty Chair

Pamela Mason is Lecturer on Education, Director of the Language and Literacy Master's Program and Director of the Jeanne Chall Reading Lab at HGSE. Mason served for 10 years as a reading/language arts curriculum director and for 19 years as an elementary school principal in the Boston area. She is president of the Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators (MACURE) and was past president of the Massachusetts Reading Association. She collaborates with colleagues nationally and internationally on preparing reading specialist teachers, implementing literacy coaching, developing school leaders and evaluating school-wide literacy programs.

Spring 2012 Faculty Included

Katherine Boles is Senior Lecturer on Education and Director of the Learning and Teaching Master’s Program at HGSE. A classroom teacher for over 25 years, Boles writes and teaches about school reform, teacher education and new forms of teacher leadership.

 Kathryn Parker Boudett is Lecturer on Education and the Director of the Data Wise Project at HGSE. Her research and teaching focus on helping educators make effective use of a wide range of data sources to improve instruction and student achievement.

Soo Hong, Assistant Professor of Education, Wellesley College

James Honan is Senior Lecturer on Education at HGSE. Honan's teaching and research interests include financial management of nonprofit organizations, organizational performance measurement and management, and higher-education administration.

Deborah Jewell-Sherman is Senior Lecturer on Education at HGSE. Jewell-Sherman is a graduate of the Urban Superintendents Program at HGSE and has built a reputation over the past decade as one of the most successful urban district superintendents in the country.

Kim Marshall, Principal Coach, New Leaders for New Schools

David Rease, Co-founder, Pursue Excellence

Michele Shannon, Co-founder, Pursue Excellence

Irma Tyler-Wood, Partner and Founding Member, Ki ThoughtBridge

Paola Uccelli is Assistant Professor of Education at HGSE. Uccelli studies socio-cultural and individual differences in early language development and in academic literacy.

Enrollment Instructions

New and Aspiring School Leaders is now an application based program. To maximize the learning experience, the institute aims to bring together as diverse a group as possible. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and decisions are returned within five working days.

Payment is due within 30 days of acceptance into the program. If acceptance into the program falls less than 30 days prior to program start date, payment is due upon acceptance.

Fees

The comprehensive program fee covers tuition, all instructional materials and refreshments.

Payment or a purchase order is due 30 days after registration. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.

Accommodations

Detailed program information and accommodation options will be provided to all admitted participants. The Harvard Graduate School of Education is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred. We recommend that you not make lodging and travel arrangements until you are admitted to the program.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be submitted via fax or email. Full refunds will be given up to 30 days prior to the start of the program. Due to program demand and pre-institute preparations, cancellations received 14 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of 10% of the program tuition. Cancellations received within 13 days prior to the start of the program and no-shows are subject to the full program tuition. Please note: cancellation fees are based upon the date the written request is received.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.