EastTexasRadio.com Powered by Ten Stations
Paris Junior High Principal Kristi Callihan is among the 50 school leaders across Texas selected as the 2023 cohort of educators. She will attend summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It is sponsored by the Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships.
With these new cohorts, the Charles Butt Foundation will have paid more than 1,500 educators to attend training at Harvard through the Raising School Leaders program, an initiative designed to develop stronger school leaders who will enhance the quality of education across Texas.
The Charles Butt Foundation covers expenses for the attendees, including tuition, travel, hotel, and other discretionary costs for a total investment of more than $10 million since the program’s inception.
Attendees, including individual principals and campus teams, will participate in one of two weeklong workshops on leadership development, coaching, or school turnaround led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts. They design each program to inspire, challenge, and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond.
“Great teachers, along with strong school and district leaders, represent the most significant influencers of academic achievement and supportive culture,” said Tim Miller, Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation. “Our alumni often report that their Harvard experience is the best professional development they have ever experienced and that they return to their campuses energized, inspired, and empowered to make meaningful change that benefits all students.”
They gave school leaders from districts for this summer’s institutes preference considering rural or had a student enrollment of less than 5,000. “As demographics shift in Texas, we recognize that the needs of schools in rural and smaller districts are unique. Creating a space for school leaders in rural and smaller districts to find commonalities, problem solve, and build a support network is an important component of this year’s Raising School Leaders program,” added Miller.
Following the Harvard Institutes, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders. They are empowered to work together to create change at the campus and district levels. Sponsored to attend the organization’s biannual leadership symposium and receive continuous support and professional development are alums.
You can find a list of all cohort members across Texas at https://charlesbuttfdn.org/leadership/50-school- leaders-selected-for-harvard-institutes/.
ABOUT THE CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION
The Charles Butt Foundation is pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships. The Foundation is working toward an end where all Texas children and families live in vibrant communities supported by a world-class education system. To learn more, visit CharlesButtFdn.org.