Leading Change: A CSML Course

The job of a school leader has never been more complex. School leaders are key change agents for their schools and are tasked with improving practice while navigating an increasingly challenging school environment. Driving change requires a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to effectively manage improvement and lead successful schools. 

Offered as a course within the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), an innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS), Leading Change is designed to equip school leaders with the skills they need to drive school change and help diverse stakeholders establish priorities and improve practice. 

Course Objectives

Leading Change participants will:

• Learn the concept of adaptive leadership, and apply a framework for building and distributing leadership in their school, engaging and empowering others in solving their school’s most challenging problems, including those that require shifts in beliefs and practices
• Operationalize the fundamental belief that the principal can and should set the culture of a school
• Learn how to establish a sense of urgency, craft and communicate a strong vision, and actively shape a school culture to support the most critical work
• Develop the knowledge and skills to lead a diverse school community that supports all students in reaching their potential
• Explore, identify and address equity challenges by using data, and learn how to build an equitable school culture that promotes excellence for all

Participant Experience

Hosted on the innovative HBS Online platform, Leading Change is an entirely virtual, highly interactive, and case-based course. Leading Change participants:

• Engage in case-based learning with HGSE and HBS faculty on topics that include education, business, and policy
• Watch virtual case studies featuring leaders from a representative cross-section of U.S. schools and businesses, and analyze the leaders’ experiences, insights, and best practices
• Engage in interactive activities to learn and network with a diverse group of participants who hold school leadership positions worldwide
• Reflect on their practice, knowledge, skills, and understandings—and identify opportunities to apply course learnings to their unique context
• Gain first hand experience with the case-based and inductive learning model

For a look at the participant experience, view the Leading Change demo video below.

The course also features engaging case studies of the following practitioners:

• Quinton Courts: Principal, Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa Elementary School, Dallas, TX
• Sheila Durant: Principal, P.S. 69 Journey Prep School, Bronx, NY
• John Fish: President and CEO, Suffolk Construction, Boston, MA
• Jeff Mathews: Principal, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA
• Brittany Wagner-Friel: Principal, EL Hayes Elementary School, Washington, DC
• Naia Wilson-Akubude: Headmaster, New Mission High School, Boston, MA

Who Should Participate

CSML is designed for school leaders who are looking to deepen their knowledge of educational leadership and management in schools. Specifically:

• Early-career and experienced school leaders, including teacher leaders responsible for supporting and managing teams of teachers or other school staff
• District, charter, faith-based, and independent school leaders
• School, district, or school management leadership teams 

Course Details

Leading Change takes place over four weeks and will require approximately three to four hours of work each week. Course activities are both rigorous and flexible. The course learning format allows participants to choose when within a given week they complete an assignment, while engaging with specific content and projects during designated time periods. This approach enables cohort members to work through the course elements together and fosters peer-to-peer learning, a vital component of the CSML experience. Participants will be able to download course materials including key takeaways at the end of each week.

Upon successful completion of Leading Change, participants will receive a certificate of course completion issued jointly by HGSE and HBS.

To see modules and deadlines for current and upcoming editions of Leading Change, view and download the course syllabus and course calendars:

• Leading Change Course Syllabus
• June 2023 Course Calendar
• July 2023 Course Calendar

About CSML

Leading Change is one of four courses that applies towards the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), an innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS). This multi-course certificate program for PreK-12 school leaders integrates expertise in managing teams and organizations. For complete certificate details click here. 

Upcoming Courses

June Term | June 21 – July 19, 2023
Application Deadline: June 9, 2023 |  Enrollment Deadline: June 15, 2023

July Term | July 19 – August 16, 2023
Application Deadline: July 7, 2023 |  Enrollment Deadline: July 13, 2023

• Leading Change
• Leading School Strategy and Innovation
• Leading People
• Leading Learning

To receive more information and updates on future CSML course offerings, please request information here.

Application Process

Applications are processed through HBS Online. By submitting an application for the CSML program, you are applying to the four courses within CSML. If accepted to the program, participants must enroll in the course of their choice.

The HBS Online platform, including the application and courses, is designed to work on an internet-connected desktop or notebook computer running either the Chrome or Firefox browser. Tablet computers and smartphones are not supported by the HBS Online platform at this time. Click here for more information. 

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency is a requirement for application to and successful participation in this online certificate. All participants are expected to have fluency in English, including a basic knowledge of education terminology, in order to effectively engage with the content, complete assignments, and interact with other members of the learning community.

Fees and Policies

This program is excluded from the use of HGSE Professional Education discounts for HGSE alumni.

Payment
Please note: payments are only accepted by credit card or wire transfer within the HBS Online portal

Checks, Purchase Orders, or other forms of payment are not accepted. All payments must be received by the deadline posted on the Payment page to guarantee your participation in each CSML course.

Please visit the HBS Online Support Portal for any payment inquiries and questions.

Tuition Assistance                                                                                      
Tuition includes all instructional materials; all materials for the program are available on the online course platform. Tuition assistance is not available for this program. Payment must be received prior to the program's start. We accept credit card or wire transfer payments only through the HBS Online portal. The fee must be paid in full upon registration. 

Returning Participant Discount
Effective May 15, 2023, participants who have enrolled in at least one CSML course on their own and not through a group enrollment are eligible to receive a 10% discount on each subsequent CSML course. The discount is NOT valid for the first enrolled CSML course. Participants are only eligible to receive the discount after the withdrawal deadline (24 hours after the start of a program*) passes for their first individually purchased CSML course. This discount is only applied to future enrollments and cannot be retroactively applied to a previous enrollment.

Participants who have only enrolled as part of a group enrollment agreement through access codes are NOT eligible to receive this discount.

Discounts are automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment. Discounts are not available after you've submitted payment, so if you think you are eligible for an enrollment discount, please review this discount policy in detail before submitting any payment.

This 10% discount is valid on CSML enrollments submitted on or after May 15, 2023 Eastern Standard Time on the HBS Online website at https://account.myhbx.org.

This discount may not be combined with other scholarships, financial aid, or other offers.

Only one discount may be used per order.

This discount cannot be redeemed for cash, transferred, or sold. It is void where prohibited by law.

These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

*Please note, this is 24 hours after the program materials become available, not after you log in.

Refund and Withdrawal Policies
Please click here for information on the Certificate in School Management and Leadership policies regarding certificate eligibility, deferrals, withdrawals, and refunds.

We reserve the right to cancel programs at our discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for planning expenses incurred.

Disability Accommodation Requests
Accommodation Requests for this program are reviewed and processed through HBS Online. Click here to review the full Disability Accommodations Request Policy and Procedures. Participants with documented disabilities or medical conditions may request reasonable accommodations by contacting hbsonlineaccommodations@hbs.edu. Please do NOT send medical documentation directly via this email.