The Cahn Fellows Programs
Studies have determined that providing advanced training and leadership development skills for principals is one of the most effective ways to improve education in the public school system. Our Programs are designed to provide continuous growth and support throughout various phases of professional careers for principals and other administrative leaders. Learn more about The Cahn Fellows history and mission.
“If you find a school that’s working well, there’s a good principal running it.”
Chuck CahnTHE CAHN FELLOWS DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPALS PROGRAM
Our flagship program seeks to provide exemplary school leaders in large urban public school systems with advanced professional development and recognition to increase leadership skills, retention in education and student outcomes. We will be adding a West Coast program that will include the Los Angeles and Clark County school districts. In addition, we offer alumni a long-term opportunity to participate in our program through our alumni programming and as alumni advisors.
THE CAHN FELLOWS
3-4 YEAR PRINCIPALS PROGRAM
An important outcome of our Strategic Plan was districts telling us the enormous importance of programming for 3-4 year principals. Professional Development is typically not available to this group. We want to begin the design this year and implement it in 2022. Our goal for this program is to build capacity designed for 3-4 year principals needing technical leadership development. Participants who complete this one year program and who go on to complete the 5-year requirement will be given priority when applying to the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals. Coming in 2022!
THE CAHN FELLOWS
ALUMNI PROGRAM
We are committed to the engagement of the Alumni through the expanding of alumni programming in each city with support from the Advisory Councils, the deepening of local relationships in each partner city, hosting annual national Cahn Fellows Conferences, and expanding program content through the creation of webinars.
Results
Studies show that your attitude substantially impacts your physical and mental health, your ability to achieve your goals, and your ability to lead and influence others. The Cahn Fellows Programs are designed to change the outlook and performance of leaders across the country. Your success is our success, as is demonstrated by the below answers to our survey before and after participating in our Principals Programs, as well as in the continued success of our participants making news headlines and trailblazing in education.
Before
Before participating in The Cahn Fellows Program, principals were more likely to associate their jobs with negative characteristics.
After
After participating in The Cahn Fellows Program, principals were more likely to associate their jobs with positive characteristics.
“There are many things about the Cahn experience that helped me grow as a leader, but the one that surfaces the most is the impact that the Cahn experience had on my mindset. I reconnected with my values as a leader, as a person, and I felt at peace with my growing edges. Before Cahn, I felt I had to be guarded about some of my beliefs and my weaknesses. That inhibited me as a leader and a person. I feel more prepared to lead adults due to the Cahn experience.”
“The Cahn Fellows Program creates a space for school leaders to grow and learn from top experts so they continue to drive change in their communities throughout Chicago.”
“With proven effectiveness in retaining talented, high-performing principals and creating a pipeline of aspiring leaders, this fellowship seeks to strengthen urban public school systems by providing professional, intellectual and personal growth experiences for outstanding principals and teacher leaders.”
“The best professional development I received in my 30 years at the DOE. The Cahn Fellows Programs assisted me in moving my school from good to great.”
“The Cahn Fellows provided me with rich intellectual, practical, and collegial support not just for solving school leadership problems, but for defining them, and for reflecting on my own skills critically within the context of the problem. The Cahn Fellows experience stands alone in my 26-year career as a professional learning experience that had a lasting positive impact on my practice, my results, and my professional relationships. It truly is a model.”
“The Cahn Fellowship has made a lasting impression on my leadership career, particularly because of the outstanding encouragement and motivation from everyone involved. It has given me a new sense of purpose after being principal for eight years at the same school. The professional development has been some of the best I have received throughout my career. From each session, I have gained valuable insight that I have implemented immediately at my school.”
“The Cahn Fellows Program was transformative in my growth as an educator and leader. The cohort group, the guided walk at Gettysburg, and the development of our projects all helped me reconsider my role and how I support others. Specific insights from our process impact how I’ve worked to support principals in NY and in my current role in MA. Nel Noddings of Standford wrote, “who cares for the caregivers?” The Cahn Fellows Program does a great job caring for, celebrating and growing leaders. I’m both honored and lucky to have grown through the Program.”
“Throughout my career I have felt that meeting with fellow practitioners, and sharing best practices, has always been the best way of improving my pedagogy. When I was a teacher I valued observing other teachers; when I was an Assistant Principal, I observed other Assistant Principals. This model falls away, however, for Principals. We rarely have an opportunity to take a step back and share best practices with each other in a risk-free environment. This program has allowed me, as a Principal, to really listen to a diverse group of excellent leaders discuss both the high points and the low points of their careers: what they did right, what they did wrong, and how they would do it again next time.”
“As a deputy chancellor, I saw the birth of the Cahn Fellows and had the privilege of sitting on its board.”
“The Cahn Fellowship created for me, a brave space where I could share reflections on my successes and failures with colleagues. I was given the space to stop, reflect, and breathe so I can get better for our students, staff, and families.”