Urban Superintendents Academy
Empowering Urban Leaders for Over a Decade
As our nation’s urban communities grow, so does the need for dynamic superintendents equipped to lead diverse school districts toward success. The Urban Superintendents Academy is your pathway to becoming a transformative leader! This academy, offered in partnership with Howard University and USC Rossier, prepares current and aspiring superintendents to tackle the unique challenges of urban education with confidence, creativity, and an unwavering focus on equity.
Academy Details
AASA offers two cohorts of the Urban Superintendents Academy in collaboration with two premier universities:
Applications are due by July 15, 2025
The AASA-Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy is recognized as one of the premier programs in the country. The academy aims to address disparities in educational leadership by cultivating a network of leaders ready to assume superintendent roles, especially in districts with large and diverse populations.
Applications are due by July 15, 2025
The AASA-USC Rossier Urban Superintendents Academy is a program designed to support current and aspiring superintendents as they navigate the complexities of equity-centered leadership in school districts. Participants gain the knowledge, insights, skills and practices needed to make a lasting meaningful impact as superintendent.
Just 10% of our nation’s superintendents are persons of color. This program is designed to change that.
By participating, you’ll gain:
- Expert Knowledge: Learn from the nation’s top thought leaders in urban education.
- 21st-Century Leadership Skills: Master the strategies needed to navigate community relations, district politics, and equity-centered decision-making.
- Real-World Experience: Develop action plans to address the challenges faced by today’s urban superintendents.
- Mentorship and Networking: Join a supportive community of peers and mentors dedicated to advancing equity and excellence in education.
Academy Dates
In-Person Meeting Dates
August 22, 2025: Urban Leadership Summit Kickoff in Washington, DC 9:00 am- 4:30 pm ET
Feb 10-11, 2026: Prior to AASA's 2026 National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn.
May 15-16, 2026: Capstone Presentations, Alexandria, Va.
Virtual Meeting Dates
All virtual meetings occur from 8:30 am-3:30 pm ET.
- September 20, 2025: Critical Educational Issues Facing the Modern Superintendent
- October 18, 2025: Critical Educational Issues Facing the Modern Superintendent: Part II
- November 15, 2025: Community, Media Relations, and the Politics of the Urban Superintendency
- December 13, 2025: Urban Leadership
- January 24, 2026: Urban Leadership, Part II
- March 21, 2026: Goal Attainment and the Practical Realities of Becoming an Urban Superintendent
- April 18, 2026: Strategic Planning and Thinking through an Antiracist Lens
In-Person Meeting Dates
August 22, 2025: Urban Leadership Summit Kickoff in Washington, DC 9:00 am- 4:30 pm ET
September 12-13, 2025: Leadership Retreat: USC Campus, Los Angeles, Calif.
February 10-11, 2026: Prior to AASA's 2026 National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn.
Virtual Meeting Dates
All virtual meetings occur from 4:30-6pm PST.
- September 8, 2025: Online Program Orientation
- September 29, 2025: Session 1: Changing Face of Public Education & The Urban District
- October 13, 2025: Session 2: Vision, Mission, and Strategic Planning
- October 27, 2025: Session 3: The Superintendent and Elected/Appointed Board, Part 1
- November 3, 2025: Session 4: Building a Professional Culture for Teachers and Staff
- November 17, 2025: Session 5: Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Part 1
- December 1, 2025: Session 6: Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Part 2
- December 15, 2025: Session 7: Community Engagement, Part 1
- January 12, 2026: Session 8: Community Engagement, Part 2
- January 26, 2026: Session 9: The Superintendent and Elected/Appointed Board: Part 2
- February 23, 2026: Session 11: Ethical Principles Professional Norms
- March 2, 2026: Session 12: Caring and Inclusive School Community
- March 23, 2026: Session 13: Unions, Charters, Mayors: How to Lead Through Adversity
- April 13, 2026: Session 14: Operations & Management and the Urban Leader: Part 1
- April 20, 2026: Session 15: Operations & Management and the Urban Leader: Part 2
- May 4, 2026: Session 16: Becoming an Urban Superintendent
- May 11, 2026: Session 17: Leading to Transform
Academy Leads
Partners
The Rossier School of Education at USC has a long and proud legacy of training educational leaders who serve in school districts throughout the nation. Through our partnership with AASA we are able to bring our expertise to prepare a new generation of urban district leaders to confront the most complex challenges facing schools today.
Pedro Noguera
If you want to be a change agent, if you want to see all children be successful, and more importantly, those children who historically have been disadvantaged, if you want to push your own thinking and your own perception of reality, then you need to join the urban superintendents program.
Kimberly Mackey
Details
August 22, 2025 to June 30, 2026
See Academy Details and Dates section for additional information and application links.
Contact
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Jessica Gordon
Program Manager, Leadership Network
AASA, The School Superintendents Association
703-875-0704
11th Annual AASA/Howard/USC-Rossier Urban Superintendents Academy- Urban Summit
The 2025 Urban Leadership Summit will take place on August 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.
