Building on Penn GSE's legacy of education innovation and leadership, Catalyst operates at the nexus of education, business, and technology to help generate, test, adapt, and disseminate best practices and powerful new tools for educators at all levels.
What We Do
Catalyst’s programs cut across sectors to serve educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, investors, business leaders, and others with a stake in education’s power to create opportunity for all learners.
Connect Innovators
Through Catalyst Community Conversations, Catalyst connects education leaders across the industry with the shared goal of improving education through innovation. We facilitate public conversations, host working groups on pressing challenges, and honor the change makers who transform teaching and learning through The Harold W. McGraw, Jr., Prize in Education.
Develop Leaders
We develop educators to disrupt education from within through professional development certificate and other programs. Through the Penn Learning Network, Center for School Study Councils, and Coalition for Educational Excellence, we offer solutions that facilitate collaboration and problem-solving among district leaders, train practitioners in virtual teaching and computational thinking, and support equal access and opportunity in education to close achievement gaps.
Support Entrepreneurs
We support entrepreneurs and education ventures who disrupt education from outside the system. Through the prestigious Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition, Entrepreneur-in-Residence Office Hours, and other programs. We guide business development through Bootcamps, webinars, and workshops. We support new solutions and celebrate impactful ventures.
Explore the Future of Learning
We explore the future of learning both in the U.S. and around the world, focusing on augmented and virtual reality, innovation mindset, digital teaching and learning, and more.
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Catalyst Innovation Summit - Harnessing Impact for Research in Ed Tech
Step into a dynamic space of innovation and inspiration at the Catalyst Innovation Summit! The Summit is where bold ideas, game-changing strategies, and powerful connections come together to elevate you to the next level. This high-energy, in-person experience is designed for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and ambitious professionals eager to unlock new opportunities.
Date & time 10:00 AM - 5:45 PMLocation Penn Graduate School of Education, 3700 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104Audiences (ALL)
Feature Initiatives
2025 Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition: Semifinalists to be announced May 1
The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) is the world’s premier competition for early-stage ventures tackling inequities in education through innovation. Since 2010, we’ve awarded more than $2 million in cash and prizes, with winners and finalists securing over $200 million in follow-on funding.
Stay Ahead in AI and Education!
The University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education is excited to announce the pilot launch of Pioneering AI in School Systems (PASS), a first-of-its-kind professional development program exploring the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education. Read our press release to learn more, and sign up for updates to receive program announcements, exclusive insights, and enrollment opportunities. Email us with any questions at ai-pass@gse.upenn.edu.
Catapult – the Catalyst @ Penn GSE virtual accelerator
Catapult transforms education entrepreneurship. From idea to scale, we help companies shape, develop, and deploy innovative, proven solutions to meet critical educational challenges.
Global Connections in Education
With an emphasis on global connections, this event series offers attendees the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers by engaging in meaningful dialogues and experiences that can positively influence the future of education.
Edmund W. Gordon, Robert Lerman, and Jody Lewen selected for outstanding achievement in pre-K–12, lifelong learning, and higher education.
More Opportunities
Catalyst presents Entrepreneur-in-Residence Mentoring & Breakthrough Series
Catalyst @ Penn GSE is excited to offer aspiring education entrepreneurs expert mentorship and community connection through Entrepreneur-in-Residence opportunities. John Gamba, a serial entrepreneur and Penn GSE's first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs on their journey from the spark of an idea to the launch of their venture and beyond.
Work with John in one-on-one mentoring sessions to develop your vision, incorporate research-to-practice into your business model, convert knowledge to action, and ultimately make a tangible impact in the lives of students. Plus, don’t miss Catalyst’s monthly Entrepreneur Breakthroughs series that celebrates and connects founders to share their insights and learn from each other’s experiences. Both opportunities are free and open to all aspiring education entrepreneurs.
Inquiries with Practitioners
Catalyst @ Penn GSE convenes school and district teams to engage in a continuous improvement approach to research-practice partnerships. With Catalyst guidance and support, inquiry communities develop and test ideas to address complex challenges common across educational contexts. Through inter-district collaboration, practitioners build their capacity to utilize continuous improvement approaches in their ongoing work.
"The future of teaching and learning will demand a shift in thinking away from traditional attitudes, practices, and values."
Measuring our impact
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400k Students served by members of the Center for School Study Council Network
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3k Educators engaged in Coalition for Educational Equity Network
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1.5k Learners participated in a Professional Learning Program
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50k Educators supported by the Penn Literacy Network since 1981
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10 Networks of peers connected through Catalyst's diverse offerings
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50 Ongoing partnerships with national and international districts and organizations
The Catalyst Team
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Bonnie Botel-Sheppard
Co-Founder and Senior Program Coordinator, Penn Literacy Network
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Director for Online Learning, Catalyst @ Penn GSE
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Director, Center for School Study Councils
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John Gamba
Director of Innovative Programs, Penn GSE
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Vice Dean of Innovative Programs and Partnerships, Catalyst @ Penn GSE
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Adina Goldstein
Research Assistant, Catalyst @ Penn GSE
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Megan MacDonald
Research Assistant, Catalyst @ Penn GSE
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Nicole Masloff
Educational Partnership Manager, Penn Literacy Network
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Blythe McCormack
Program Coordinator, Center for School Study Councils & Coalition for Educational Equity
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Dayna Muñiz
Associate Director, Coalition for Educational Equity
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Lara Paparo
Executive Director, Penn Literacy Network
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Samantha Powers
Coordinator, Catalyst @ Penn GSE
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Iris Sanchez
Business Manager, Penn Literacy Network
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Tomea Sippio-Smith
Director, Coalition for Educational Equity
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Harris Sokoloff
Executive Director, Catalyst Community Conversations
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Katrina Struloeff
Director, Growth and Impact
Contact Us
For more information on how you can get involved in our networks, events, and other programming, visit our webpage, subscribe to our email list, or connect with us on LinkedIn.