Harvard University today announced a new doctoral program in educational leadership that, in partnership with prominent organizations pushing for change in elementary and secondary schools, will seek to train people capable of bringing about major school reform.
Harvard's new Doctor of Education Leadership Program will be based at its Graduate School of Education and will involve faculty members of that school as well as Harvard's business school and John F. Kennedy School of Government. In their third and final year in the program, students will enter a yearlong residency with a partner organization such as Teach for America, the National Center on Education and the Economy, or one of the nation's largest urban school districts.
The program's mission will be to train top officials of school districts, government agencies, nonprofit groups, and private organizations who will be equipped to shake up the status quo in elementary and secondary education.
"Our goal is not to develop leaders for the system as it currently exists; rather, we aim to develop people who will lead system transformation," Kathleen McCartney, dean of the Graduate School of Education, said in written statement.
The Wallace Foundation has provided Harvard a $10-million grant for the program, enabling the university to operate it tuition-free and to offer its students a cost-of-living stipend. An initial cohort of 25 students is expected to enroll in the program in the fall of 2010.
Comments
1. williammchenry - September 15, 2009 at 08:46 am
What a great opportunity to break from the Status Quo. While producing a new set of leaders will help, the new leaders themselves will need help. Hopefully we have learned from the 80's, 90's, and this decade that you can not successfully import or export meaningful change. Institutions must own the change they seek to implement.
Maybe Harvard and the Wallace Foundation could also break from the Status Quo and encourage a partnership with the Wallace Foundation; Harvard; Jackson State University - the largest producer of African American teachers in the country; the University of Texas at El Paso, a large Hispanic serving university; and Salish Kootenia College, an American Indian college or other representative institutions. The partnership would better represent the diversity of the institutions, including school systems, the initiative hopes to influence and the insight these institutions could provide as partners would help break the Status Quo.
Regardless, this is a great opportunity.
Thanks
Bill McHenry
2. 11134078 - September 15, 2009 at 08:53 am
The ed biz never lets up pretending that there is some nostrum just waiting in the wings and accessible only to its own brilliant practioners who really, really, have got it right this time. What nonsense! Look as the PISA scores, find out what the high scoring countries do, and adapt their practices. Harvard participation not necessary.
3. juanitamwoods - September 15, 2009 at 10:15 am
Bill McHenry: I couldn't have said it better and I think the cohort of 25 is limitting. But WOW...what an opportunity. Only concern is that once these individuals finish and get into the system wouldn't they have to report to principals, superintendents, etc.? I sincerely hope that administrators, board of education members, and school administrators who are frustrated with the status quo, know they can not do it alone, and really do want to effect change will be recruited for this program so that they will be able to put into effect what they've learned at a faster pace.
4. juanitamwoods - September 15, 2009 at 10:15 am
Bill McHenry: I couldn't have said it better and I think the cohort of 25 is limitting. But WOW...what an opportunity. Only concern is that once these individuals finish and get into the system wouldn't they have to report to principals, superintendents, etc.? I sincerely hope that administrators, board of education members, and school administrators who are frustrated with the status quo, know they can not do it alone, and really do want to effect change will be recruited for this program so that they will be able to put into effect what they've learned at a faster pace.
5. juanitamwoods - September 15, 2009 at 10:16 am
Bill McHenry: I couldn't have said it better and I think the cohort of 25 is limitting. But WOW...what an opportunity. Only concern is that once these individuals finish and get into the system wouldn't they have to report to principals, superintendents, etc.? I sincerely hope that administrators, board of education members, and school administrators who are frustrated with the status quo, know they can not do it alone, and really do want to effect change will be recruited for this program so that they will be able to put into effect what they've learned at a faster pace.
6. hoffpeter - September 15, 2009 at 01:26 pm
This is what Educational Leadership programs have always said they were doing. And organizations like Teach For America have a lot of name recognition and sex appeal, but not much to show for their efforts. Are we supposed to belive that, because the diploma says "Harvard" on it, it will be any different?
7. wturnertsu - September 16, 2009 at 11:53 am
That the status quo is not working for a large segment of the population is a foregone conclusion. It is especially not working for far too many pupils of African descent, particularly in Mississippi. Thsu, Bill Henry's suggestion that Institutions of Higher Learning, such as JSU, be given consideration as a participant, with Harvard in the EL program should be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
The late, great Dr. Morris Kinsey of the NAACP devoted his life to improving conditions within Mississippi and the south. Before dying mysteriously at The Univ. of Mississipi Medical Center in Jackson, while seeking what he and many others thought was a routine medical exam and treatment for diabetics, Dr. Kinsey and I were investigating several allegations of actual physical abuse by white teachers against elementary and middle school children in rural schools. So, if any program is being considered to improve school systems, please consider Mississippi as the first state to begin the implementation of new procedures and policies.