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Professional Development
The Certificate in Strategic Leadership (CSL) supports K-12 school, district, and system professionals in developing a more strategic, grounded, and sustainable approach to leadership while making real progress on important priorities.
In accordance with Harvard University policy, Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education affirms the right of all individuals to equal treatment in education without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Certificate in Strategic Leadership is designed to equip you with strategies to make meaningful progress on work that matters while remaining energized and hopeful, even in a complex, fast-moving environment. In the courses, you’ll identify a key priority from your own context and use practical concepts, tools, and structured tasks to make effective progress over time.
Consisting of two asynchronous online courses, the certificate focuses on five core elements of strategic leadership. You’ll explore what each of these elements means, why they matter, and how they work together, while applying what you’re learning directly in your own setting. When you complete both courses, you’ll earn the comprehensive Certificate in Strategic Leadership and continue to develop and implement your skills of reflection, practice, analysis, and improvement in your daily work, navigating challenges as an education leader. This certificate welcomes registrations from all practitioners in the field.
The Certificate in Strategic Leadership is based on Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education, by Faculty Co-Chairs Elizabeth City and Rachel E. Curtis.
Working online at your own pace, you’ll read chapters and real-world case studies from Leading Strategically. You’ll watch brief videos from the authors and other practitioners showing what this work looks like in practice. You’ll use tools such as self-assessments, sorting activities, matrices, and data trackers. And you’ll spend time reflecting on your thinking, your habits, and your growth edges as a leader.
This course requires participants to purchase the companion book, Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education, by Faculty Co-Chairs Elizabeth City and Rachel E. Curtis. Once registered for the course, you will receive a confirmation email with a discount code to redeem 30% off this Harvard Education Press text.
A Certificate in Strategic Leadership will be awarded to participants who complete both of the CSL courses. They may be taken in any order or simultaneously, and both courses must be taken within two years of starting. To determine which course aligns best with your immediate goals, visit the individual descriptions below.
The certificate courses provide you with the support to:
Through work on strategy, instructional improvement, and the future of learning, Liz City develops leaders with the skills, imagination, and collaboration necessary to build and re-build systems that serve each and every child well.
Through 30 years of work on strategy and leadership development in urban schools, Rachel Curtis supports system leaders as director of the Aspen Urban Superintendents Network, coaches superintendents, and develops leaders in the practice of strategic leadership.
The Certificate in Strategic Leadership is ideal for school, district, system, and non-profit leaders and administrators interested in deepening their strategic approach with actionable elements that define purpose, build relationships, guide decision-making, harness power, and inform their leadership. Titles may include:
This certificate welcomes both individuals and teams. First-time registrants need to create a Professional Education account to register.
Individuals: Click the "Register" button at the top of the individual CSL program's page to log into your Professional Education account and access the registration page. Proceed with the individual form until submission. Invoices will be immediately available upon the submission of the form.
Teams: Designate one participant or an administrative staff member as the Coordinator.