Harvard Institute for Superintendents and District Leaders

Overview

District leaders have always faced enormous challenges, but in the past two decades that pressure has spiked. Achieving a vision of excellence for all students continues to elude most districts, even as we learn more about what such change looks like at the classroom level. At the same time, superintendents grapple with tough questions about the best use of resources, how to navigate union and school board politics, and how to sustain capacity during leadership transitions.

The Harvard Institute for Superintendents and District Leaders brings together experts in the field to help district leaders reflect on their practice, develop new capacities, and explore approaches to building leadership in others. The program explores the challenges of implementing standards-based reform and equips participants with strategies for overcoming common hurdles and becoming catalysts of systemic change. 

Program Details

This four-day institute will introduce you to the essential questions that district leaders must consider to achieve excellence for all students. You will explore the elements of a standards-based reform framework: clear expectations for students; rigorous curricula aligned to standards; professional development that improves instructional quality; and assessment as a tool for feedback and accountability. You will also have opportunities to reflect on your personal leadership strengths and explore strategies for developing a team with the full range of capacities needed to lead systemic reform.

Objectives

• Gain strategies to sustain change and lead innovation
• Learn approaches for leading learning across your organization
• Examine governance and organizational structures and their implications for decision-making and management
• Improve your skills in communication and stakeholder engagement
• Define and analyze a central challenge and consult with peers and faculty as you refresh your approach to managing it

Who Should Attend

• District superintendents and assistant superintendents
• School board members
• Central office administrators responsible for developing quality schools and central systems

We strongly encourage enrollment by teams of senior leaders that include a superintendent.

Fees & Policies

The comprehensive tuition includes all instructional materials and refreshments. Participants receive a certificate of participation and a letter confirming clock hours of instruction. Payment or a purchase order must be received within 30 days of program acceptance, or upon receipt of the invoice if acceptance is within 30 days prior to the start of the program. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid.

Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

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.