About The Institute
Nine-Month immersive fellowship curated uniquely around the identities and lived experiences of leaders of color. The National Leadership Institute will center on MCEL’s “Essential Leadership Competencies” for Leaders of Color and our core principles of “Quality, Quantity and Care.”
Who Should Attend
- Experienced Principals +3 years
- Directors
- Executive Directors
- Assistant Superintendents
- Chiefs of School
- Deputy Superintendents
- Chiefs of Staff
Superintendents in Residence
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Dr. Donald Fennoy
Former Superintendent, School District of Palm Beach County Schools, FL
Dr. Paul Cruz
Co-Director, Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP), Professor of Practice, University of Texas
- Cohort Three: 2025
Elijah Palmer
- Chief of Staff - DeKalb County Schools
- Cohort Three: 2025
Sedrick Smith
- Principal - Baltimore City Public Schools
- Cohort Three: 2025
Brenton Williams
- Principal - Dekalb County School District
- Cohort Three: 2025
Jamaul Thomas
- Chief of Schools - KIPP Atlanta Schools
- Cohort Three: 2025
Jose Soto
- Executive Director, Special Education - Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
- Cohort Three: 2025
Eugene Robinson
- Director of Black Student Success - Chicago Public Schools
- Cohort Three: 2025
Lester Powell
- Principal - Los Angeles Unified School District
- Cohort Three: 2025
Zack Phillips
- Executive Director of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs - DeKalb County School District
National Leadership Institute's Goals
Institute Goal #1
Curate a community where leaders of color can be their authentic selves, and focusing on growth and healing.
Institute Goal #2
Analyze your leadership identity, strengthen self-awareness, and skill-building to effectively navigate the unique challenges of being a leader of color.
Institute Goal #3
Develop and unleash innovative approaches to staving off the extinction of men of color in educational leadership.
The Experience: Cohort Learning Model
- MCEL’s proprietary 360 Leadership Assessment
- Identity-based programming
- Culturally relevant experiential learning excursions
- Case Study Analysis
- Fireside chats with top leaders from across the country
- Mentoring/coaching through an integrated support plan
- Key Leadership Challenge
