McDonough School of Business
News Story

First-ever D.C. Public Schools-Charter Principal Program Launches through EML Program

Georgetown University, in partnership with DC Public Schools, the DC Public Education Fund, and the Walton Family Foundation, today announced the first-ever district-charter cohort of the McDonough School of Business Executive Master’s in Leadership (EML) program. Featuring a cohort model of 10 DC Public Schools (DCPS) and 10 DC charter school leaders, the DC Public School Leaders (DCPSL) EML program will enhance the skills and capacity of public school principals, while facilitating best-practice sharing across district and charter schools.

“The role of today’s principal extends far beyond managing teachers, curriculum, and culture: Principals lead communities, work with children of different backgrounds, infuse technology and innovation in classrooms, and ensure student learning outcomes,” said Dr. Robert Bies, founder of the Executive Master’s in Leadership Program at Georgetown University. “This program will equip principals with essential tools to navigate the growing demands of being a school leader.”

In the 11-month program, 10 DC Public Schools and 10 charter school principals will take 14 courses and participate in three residency sprints. In each sprint, principals partner with a peer from a different school sector to design solutions to overcome collective challenges. Courses take place every other Friday and Saturday, and principals will spend time visiting their peers’ schools for real-time, hands-on learning experiences.

“I am interested in the cohort format and learning from other principals,” said Jada Langston, Principal of Luke C. Moore High School. “What I love about DC Public Schools is that I get to spend time with my colleagues, and this will be an opportunity to build connections and relationships with charter school colleagues. We can do something phenomenal in this city through this cohort.”

Participating principals lead schools in almost every ward of Washington, DC, and nearly half have worked in both district and charter schools. Principals bring decades of experience in education and other fields, and represent all levels of K-12 schools.

“The opportunity to participate in rigorous and relevant professional development while collaborating with other principals will help me take our school to the next level,” said Kathryn Procope, leader of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science Public Charter School. After decades working as a mathematician and in the field of information technology, Ms. Procope now utilizes this experience as the leader of a STEM-focused school.

The program costs $70,000 per participant, but participants will pay only $10,000; the remainder will be supported jointly by Georgetown and the Walton Family Foundation in partnership with the DC Public Education Fund. Since 1998, the Walton Family Foundation has invested in education entrepreneurs in Washington, DC to grow high-quality schools, including support for the launch of more than 100 new school startups.

“To the educators that are attracted to this kind of opportunity, it just doesn’t matter if the school is  public, charter, private or virtual,” said Marc Sternberg, Director of the Walton Family Foundation’s K-12 Education program. “Good educators want to learn from good educators.”

While this is the first time the EML program will serve both district and charter principals, this is the fourth year of the program for K-12 leaders and the 12th year of Georgetown McDonough’s traditional EML.  Katherine and David Bradley, local philanthropists who support public education in Washington, D.C., made a $1M pledge to Georgetown University, most of which helped support the DCPSL program’s launch and first years of operation.  To date, there are 64 graduates of the customized EML program, the majority of whom work in leadership positions at DC Public Schools.

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About DC Public Schools

DC Public Schools is the public-school district for the District of Columbia, with 115 schools that seek to provide a world-class education that prepares all students, regardless of background or circumstance, for success in college, career, and life.

About DC Public Education Fund

The DC Public Education Fund partners with the philanthropic community to support and accelerate DC Public Schools’ trajectory as the fastest-improving urban school district in the nation.

About the Walton Family Foundation

For nearly three decades, the Walton Family Foundation has continued the philanthropic vision begun by Sam and Helen Walton. Their legacy is more important than ever as the foundation accelerates efforts to improve K-12 education for all students in America, to protect rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and to give back to the region that first gave Sam and Helen Walton opportunity. In 2015, the Walton Family Foundation awarded grants totaling nearly $375 million. Learn more at www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

About Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, the premier destination for global business education, provides a transformational education through classroom and experiential learning, preparing students to graduate as principled leaders in the service to business and society. Through numerous centers, initiatives, and partnerships, Georgetown McDonough seeks to create a meaningful impact on business practice through both research and teaching. All academic programs prepare students to be “global ready” by providing a global perspective, woven through the undergraduate and graduate curriculum in a way that is unique to Washington, D.C. – the nexus of world business and policy – and to Georgetown University’s connections to global partner organizations and a world-wide alumni network. Founded in 1957, Georgetown McDonough is home to some 1,400 undergraduates, 1,000 MBA students, and 1,200 participants in executive degree or custom programs. Learn more at http://dev-guwordpress-msb.pantheonsite.io. Follow us on Twitter: @msbgu.

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