Experience Transformation with the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership
In today’s dynamic educational landscape, leaders are confronted with unparalleled challenges. Whether you're navigating complex politics, improving student retention rates, or cultivating a thriving workforce, the demand for expert guidance and evidence-based solutions has never been more pressing.
In partnership with Penn GSE’s global network of leaders in higher education, corporate learning, and pre-K–12 schools, the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership is developing the tools, insights, and strategies to drive measurable improvements in the organizations you serve.
Join Us
Join us today and become the changemaker you aspire to be.
We Are Driven by Four Foundational Principles
Elevate your leadership acumen, instigate enduring change, and contribute to the evolution of education on a global scale. The future of educational leadership commences with the McGraw Center.
Rooted in data-driven research and real-world experiences, we aim to equip education leaders with the most up-to-date and effective approaches for confronting the challenges of educational leadership.
We recognize your need for practical solutions, no matter whether they are in student retention, employee satisfaction, or navigating the intricacies of institutional dynamics.
We seek to foster a dynamic community of scholars and practitioners who share a passion for advancing educational leadership.
Our support extends to anyone committed to enhancing educational outcomes across various contexts.
Leadership
Now Hiring: Executive Director
Penn seeks a seasoned, collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership. The Executive Director will combine strategic vision with hands-on leadership, driving initiatives that advance leadership development across preK-12 education, higher education, corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit sectors. This position calls for an action-oriented leader who thrives on collaboration and is committed to ensuring impact through both strategic planning and direct engagement in program execution. The Executive Director will elevate the McGraw Center to become the premier hub for educational leadership resources nationwide and enhance Penn GSE’s global reputation in this area.
Steering Committee
Thank you to our thoughtful colleagues at Penn GSE who have agreed to participate on the Steering Committee for the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership’s inaugural year. We are thrilled to have their creativity and experience from across all sectors of the School’s executive programs. The members of the Steering Committee are:
We are in challenging and polarizing times. As educational leaders, we are asked not only to manage our own emotional responses but also to help our students and colleagues as they struggle to understand, learn, and engage with others across differences.
To support these efforts, the following resources may be helpful. If appropriate, these may be shared with students and colleagues to guide them in understanding current events and processing their emotions.
- Dialogue Resources from SNF Paideia for Addressing Current Events
- When Emotions Run High (key principles and practices for addressing what’s happening beyond the classroom or workplace)
- Structures for Processing Current Events (two broadly adaptable activities that help participants connect to themselves and others to process current events, without requiring excessive vulnerability or inviting debate)
- Getting Ready to Dialogue (a primer for engaging in dialogue, including helpful scripts for difficult moments)
- Practicing Presence (a collection of simple mindfulness practices to help participants release tension)
- Understanding & Teaching about the Israeli & Palestinian Conflict-Resources for Educators
- Links in this document provide resources for educators around social-emotional considerations, the historical context of the crisis, teaching resources about the war, and a selection of writings about the war. These resources were collected by GSE’s Dr. Abby Reisman and doctoral student Tiferet Ani.
- GSE Community Circle Resources
- These are resources compiled by GSE’s counseling faculty. They include educational resources, coping and mental health resources, charities and humanitarian resources, and substance abuse and mental health services administration.
- Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
- This is a link to a book by three faculty from the Harvard Negotiation Project. This is not specific to the current crisis but offers suggestions for structuring challenging conversations.
- Ground Rules for Productive Dialogue
- The Committee of Seventy offers nine ground rules for productive dialogue that are used in the Can We Talk? moderated conversations led by Harris Sokoloff and Chris Satullo.
Our Partners
The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership is made possible by a generous gift from the The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, Inc. Already partners in celebrating and amplifying the profound impact of educators through the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, Penn GSE and the McGraw Family Foundation recognized that the world needs more leaders who embody the spirit of the McGraw Prize.
Penn GSE's Leadership Programs
The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership partners with the outstanding faculty, students, and alumni of Penn GSE’s prestigious doctoral and master’s degree programs in educational leadership.
“Our father was ahead of his time in that he was recognizing innovative leaders. Whether teacher, principal, or corporate educator, he saw the value in those who were doing things differently. He knew that powerful learning and change was rooted in the talents and abilities of education’s top leaders.”
Contact Us
The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 746-4232