District Leadership

The Center for Model Schools and AASA Partner to Support K–12 Superintendents and School Leaders

• By Kate Lucariello
• 10/12/23

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's (HMH) Center for Model Schools (Center) and the School Superintendents Association (AASA) have partnered to help superintendents and other school leaders to improve teaching and learning to advance equity and support their communities.

The partnership will provide opportunities in a multiyear initiative for leaders to connect and collaborate to create transformation goals and plans to address the challenges of improving their schools, as demands in curriculum development, learning strategies, and industry training are all being affected by new and upcoming technology.

The two nonprofit organizations will both be supported by the new Superintendents Teaching and Learning Network, with each bringing its successful strategies to the table:

The Center supports leaders by customized consulting on leadership coaching, strategic planning, curriculum alignment, and data team implementation, HMH said. Its Model School Conference, bringing 5,000 educators together each year, is the nation's largest gathering focused on improving K–12 school districts. The next conference will be held June 23-26, 2024, at the Orlando World Center in Florida, and registration is open now.

AASA's educational leadership initiative, AASA Learning 2025, will incorporate the Center's conference as a major event.

The Superintendents Teaching and Learning Network will also sponsor the Aspiring Superintendents Academy. Other partnership initiatives and events are planned.

"As a former superintendent, I always sought out colleagues who were interested in pooling our collective knowledge and learning from experts about how to improve our practice and better serve our students," said Joshua P. Starr, a managing partner at the Center. "Being in a learning network was instrumental to my success, and I'm thrilled that our new partnership will enable more superintendents to apply evidence-based practices to their work and accelerate learning and achievement."

"For years, AASA has created a myriad of partnerships, involving the best of the best in public education on behalf of the thousands of outstanding men and women who are leading our public school districts," said David R. Schuler, AASA's executive director. “This partnership with the Center for Model Schools exemplifies our drive to deliver effective instructional leadership specifically designed for members of our organization."

The first Superintendents Teaching and Learning Academy virtual meeting date is Dec. 8, 2023. There are several more to follow in 2024, along with in-person meeting dates. Visit the academy page to learn more.