Interested in a development program specifically tailored to the emerging and current leaders in your district, network or region? Want to strengthen the shared vision across your schools? Marshall Leadership Institute partners with school networks and districts to co-plan and facilitate a customized, cohort0based program to accelerate the collective development of your leaders. Our programs are designed to serve your leaders and school communities. Our program includes an immersive and dynamic problem-based model that exposes leaders to authentic leadership scenarios relevant to their school contexts, allowing them to cultivate practical skills and become better equipped to address complex challenges. The cohort-based experience allows leaders to connect around common values, build a lasting community of problem-solvers, and create a shared vision and approach to serving students within their community. Ultimately, Marshall Leadership Institute alumni lead with authenticity, harnessing their powerful leadership skills to drive transformative change, together.
Assistant Principal, Elmhurst Unified Middle School
“I love teaching, but sometimes I want to explore how else I can make an impact. When I’m in these groups and practicing these skills, I feel like I really could make a really good school leader. I’ve just never been exposed to what [principals] actually do…As we were practicing the teacher observation in our groups today, I was just thinking: I can do this.”
Looking for targeted support for your schools’ current leaders? Marshall Leadership Institute offers a series of cohort-based learning experiences for aspiring and current school leaders to support their entire career journey.
Designed for experienced teachers who aspire to school leadership roles. Participants learn what school leadership entails, identify the “why” behind their desire to become school leaders, and decide whether leadership is the right path for them.
“I am thankful for my time in the Emerging Leaders cohort this year. As a teacher leader who wanted more experience before transitioning into a formal leadership role, the Emerging Leaders cohort provided ample opportunities to practice new skills such as leading teams, coaching teachers, and facilitating conversations with stakeholders. I would recommend Emerging Leaders to any teacher who is considering a leadership role in the future.”
— Caitlin Dietz-Cunanan, Assistant Principal, Impact Public Schools
Designed for new Deans, Directors, and Assistant Principals. Participants make the crucial shift from being a teacher to a manager who guides and inspires their school team. Programming is focused on building the tools, tactics, and skills needed to handle the most common challenges school leaders face in their first few years in leadership roles, including how to triage, prioritize, and persevere.
“As someone who is new to the Washington state charter sector, this fellowship has been a great opportunity for me to connect with leaders at other public charter schools across the state and to better understand the unique landscape here. I’ve appreciated the non-judgemental space to engage with folks who share similar daily experiences with me but can give me objective feedback because we come from different school contexts. The dialogue we engage in as a cohort always gives me new ideas and perspectives to bring back to my school.”
—Tim Tran, Dean of STEM at Rainier Prep Public Charter School
Designed for school leaders who want to advance into senior leadership positions (e.g. Principal, Executive Director, and C-level roles) within their school, district, or network. Seasoned leaders develop the skills necessary to build the capacity of their own leadership teams to support teachers and team members. Participants enhance, refine, and improve their leadership practices, moving from a position of competence to excellence.
“Marshall Leadership Institute has given me the knowledge and practical experience to feel confident in any opportunity that requires leadership. The tools, strategies, and insights I received during this program have made an immediate and positive impact on the ways in which I have approached various situations. Leadership isn’t just a role, it’s a life skill.”
—Ferdinand Orbino, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Summit Atlas High School
Designed exclusively for principals and school system leaders who are ready to transform their school, district, or network. Participants focus on building skills to develop and implement scalable systems and structures to realize their organization’s mission and vision. This is for leaders who find themselves in a transformational moment, where meaningful change for their school system or network is possible with the right skills and community behind them.
“This cohort has provided me with the opportunity to learn through the perspectives of others, problem solve, and connect through common struggles. I needed this space. It kept me grounded and reminded me I was in this work with a broader community focused on the same purpose of serving young people most in need.”
—Samiha Carroll, Principal at RVLA
Assistant Principal, STRIVE Prep Montbello
“This program offers new and up-and-coming leaders a space for growth, feedback, and achievement. Through different scenarios, we were able to dive into what the role of a school leader truly entails. This is not an ordinary fellowship program. Bonds are intentionally created, feedback is valuable and constructive, and the time was well spent from beginning to end. As I move into a new leadership role at my school I believe that without this program I would have continued to box myself in. After completing the cohort, I feel more confident and ready for the road that lies ahead.”
Typically, participants meet one day a month from September through June. All cohort sessions are held virtually, although, we frequently facilitate at least one in-person convening, which is hosted at our partner’s school sites. We work with our partners to determine a schedule for the school year.
The core of our model is Problem-Based Learning. While we will spend time connecting and discussing reading, much of your experience will be applying your learning by collaboratively working with others to solve a problem you will likely face in a school leadership setting. All cohort participants contribute their experiences and knowledge to create solutions, simulate scenarios, and provide honest, actionable, and timely feedback to each other to grow our leadership skills.
Marshall Leadership Institute’s intensive problem-based learning practice exposes leaders to actual problem scenarios encountered in early leadership positions and allows leaders to build practical skills. Leaders read, discuss, understand, and apply learning to contemporary school dilemmas and real-world school leadership situations. Leaders establish their own leadership styles, practice high-stakes decision-making in authentic school contexts, and reflect on their experiences and growth. This performance-rich learning cycle, in turn, prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of leadership ahead.
We offer support for emerging and current leaders in your network or district. Based on partner need, cohorts can consist of: Emerging Leaders, New Leaders, Aspiring Principals, and System Leaders. Each cohort track offers:
* If you have fewer than 10 leaders to enroll, you may consider our Emerging Leaders pathway, which consists of participants from schools across the country. Or, schedule a discovery call with Katie Ryan to discuss alternate cohort-based options. We’d love to chat!
Leaders will be expected to complete reflections on your learning between sessions. Typically, leaders can expect to read approximately 150 pages between sessions to prepare for the upcoming discussions and problem-based learning experiences.
The program is fully virtual, so your teachers and leaders can participate from anywhere. Some districts/networks may also request the addition of in-person site visits, in which case our team comes to you. Additionally, the curriculum is designed to be equally applicable to elementary, middle, and high school contexts and focuses on coaching, capacity-building, and team building skills. We have worked with teachers from all different subject areas and all have found the cohort experience useful.
It is possible for participants to earn CTEs through our program, but the criteria vary by state. For example, participants in California can earn 10 Continuing Education Credits through the Teacchers C0llege of San Joaquin. To learn more about your specific region, please reach out to Katie Ryan at kryan@summitps.org.
Yes, we have a number of alumni who joined this program as new school leaders and found it very valuable and immediately applicable. We’d love to have you join.
We would be happy to connect you with previous cohort members and/or speak with you directly. Please reach out to our Executive Director, Katie Ryan, at kryan@summitps.org for more information.
Interested in learning more about cohort-based leadership development? Schedule a call with our Executive Director, Katie Ryan.