Our Work
The Office of Leadership Development is housed within the Division of Schools in the Boston Public Schools. The Office’s mission is to recruit, hire and retain exceptional School Leaders and Administrative Team Members for Boston, as well as to cultivate and develop the talent that these leaders bring to the district. To achieve this mission, the Office oversees the following efforts:
Professional Development
Working with facilitators from within and outside the district, the Office provides year-long professional development programming for first and second year School Leaders and Administrative Team Members.
Mentoring & Coaching
The Office recruits and selects experienced leaders from within the district to serve as one-to-one mentors for School Leaders and Administrative Team Members who are within their first or second year of leadership. It also partners with outside organizations to ensure each new School Leader receives one-on-one coaching support.
Recruitment & Hiring
Working closely with community partners, universities, and a recruitment fellow team of current School Leaders, the Office builds robust pools of Principal, Head of School and Admin Team Member candidates each year. The Office screens and evaluates candidates for leadership positions through a multi-step process, including in-depth interviews and reference checks.
Aspiring Principal Fellowship
The Office offers year-long, intensive aspiring principal fellowships each year for a select number of district employees. These fellowships match district employees who are interested in becoming principals with actual principals for hands-on training, preparing them to step into principal roles themselves the following year. Click here to meet our fellows.
Licensure Support
A team of experienced district leaders meet monthly with employees who are actively pursuing their DESE licensure as Principals or Assistant Principals. These leaders provide direct guidance and support with completing the requirements for the licenses.