# The Modern Superintendent: School and Civic Leaders | Askwith Forum ![Askwith Forum logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-09/Askwith-HAA%20teaser.jpg?itok=asvdopjr) #### calendar\_today Date and Time **October 6, 2026** 04:30PM - 06:00PM EDT #### pin\_drop Location **Longfellow Hall** [13 Appian Way Cambridge, MA 02138 United States ]() [ Register for the Askwith Forum arrow\_circle\_right ](https://calendar.gse.harvard.edu/en/36YmkP6/g/54VVVpBN0P/the-modern-superintendent-school-and-civic-leader-or-askwith-education-forum-5a5YUc2gOSz/overview) The Askwith Education Forum will explore the evolving role of the superintendent as a civic leader at a moment of profound challenge and possibility for public education and democracy. In connection with the launch of the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader (ISCL) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the forum will examine how district leaders can move beyond a narrow focus on operations and accountability to become architects of community, trust, and shared purpose. HGSE faculty member Jennifer Cheatham and three former superintendents, who are currently Senior Fellows for the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader, will focus on what it means to lead school systems as democratic institutions: building broad-based coalitions across sectors; engaging families, students, and communities as partners rather than constituents; navigating polarization and misinformation; and using the bully pulpit of the superintendency to advance inclusion, equity, and civic engagement. Panelists will share concrete examples of civic leadership in action—from community-wide visioning processes to cross-agency collaborations and student voice initiatives—and reflect on the skills, dispositions, and supports superintendents need to sustain this work over time. This forum will invite educators, policymakers, students, and community members to consider how superintendents can help renew faith in public institutions, foster civic learning and participation, and ensure that school systems serve as engines of both academic excellence and democratic vitality. **Welcome: Nonie Lesaux**, Dean and Roy E. Larsen Professor of Education and Human Development, Harvard Graduate School of Education **Speakers:** - **Russell Booker**, Former Superintendent, Spartanburg, SC; CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement, South Carolina; Joint Senior Fellow, Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader and EdRedesign Lab, Harvard Graduate School of Education - **Jennifer Cheatham**, Former Superintendent, Madison, WI; Senior Lecturer on Education, Faculty Chair of Field Engagement, and Chair of the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader, Harvard Graduate School of Education - **Michael Matsuda**, Former Superintendent, Anaheim, CA; Executive in Residence, Loyola Marymount University School of Education; Senior Fellow, Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader, Harvard Graduate School of Education - **Kyla Johnson-Trammell**, Former Superintendent, Oakland, CA; CEO, Oakland Thrives; Senior Fellow, Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader, Harvard Graduate School of Education **Event Attendance & Registration** Askwith Education Forums are accessible, free, and open to the public unless otherwise noted. **Registration is required.** Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for seating, to engage with the community, and to enjoy light refreshments before the Forum. Virtual registrants will receive a Zoom link the day before the event. *An invitation to speak at the Harvard Graduate School of Education does not imply an endorsement of the speaker’s views or values by HGSE, Harvard University, or members of its community.* *For accessibility needs or accommodation requests, please contact* [*askwith@gse.harvard.edu*](mailto:askwith@gse.harvard.edu) *in advance of the program. See the FAQ tab for details.* Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#) Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://scl.gse.harvard.edu/node/346/event-feed.ics) Copy link link