#  Home Page 

 



#  The Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader 

ISCL is transforming how superintendents, leadership teams, and boards are prepared and supported so they can steward the future of public education with civic imagination, democratic purpose, and political skill.



 

 

 

       ![Group of audience members listening to Askwith Forum](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2026-02/3%20%281%29.jpg?h=a45ce596&itok=c7w28uV4) 

 

 



 

 



 

##  In the News 

 



  [### Announcing ISCL's Senior Fellow: Dr. Russell Booker

 ](https://edredesign.org/news/dr-russell-booker-appointed-joint-senior-fellow-harvard-graduate-school-education-initiatives) May 12, 2026 

 

   ![Dr. Russell Booker headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/booker_0.jpg?itok=qVYEOggx) 

 



 

 

   [### Introducing ISCL - Q&A with Jen Cheatham

 ](/news/2026/04/introducing-iscl-qa-jen-cheatham) April 22, 2026 

 

   ![Jen Cheatham headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/jen%20cheatham%202024_1.jpg?h=9168100e&itok=sMBqmCSh) 

 



 

 

   [### Simulations Aim to Prepare Superintendents to Handle Political Controversies

 ](https://www.edweek.org/leadership/simulations-aim-to-prepare-superintendents-to-handle-political-controversies/2026/02?utm_source=nl&utm_medium=eml&utm_campaign=pk12&M=16970203&UUID=bb3c7cef307fd1949d122eb8b68abd0f&T=22092763) February 19, 2026 

 

   ![Person walking in front of AASA sign](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/download%20%282%29.jpg?itok=Hvo5I7Ol) 

 



 

 

   [### Pre-order today: Superintendent as Civic Leader

 ](https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895571088/superintendent-as-civic-leader/) February 07, 2026 

  [Jennifer Cheatham](/people/jennifer-cheatham) ,   [Christina Grant](/people/christina-grant) ,   [Ross Wiener](/people/ross-wiener)

 

   ![Book cover of "Superintendent as Civic Leader: Stewarding the Future of Public Education"](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Cheatham%20Civic%20Leadership%20Updated%20Color%20-%20FInal.jpg?itok=Q-c9Dynh) 

 



 

 

   [### Why the Best Defense in Educational Leadership is a Good Offense

 ](https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/25/04/why-best-defense-educational-leadership-good-offense) April 10, 2025 

 

   ![Arrows on a chalkboard pointing up and to the right](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/istock-517460410%20%281%29.jpg?itok=LBVONEDF) 

 



 

 

   [### There’s No Escaping It, Superintendents: Your Jobs Are Political

 ](https://www.edweek.org/leadership/theres-no-escaping-it-superintendents-your-jobs-are-political/2025/03) March 11, 2025 

 

   ![Triangles with exclamation marks](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/epe.brightspotcdn.jpg?itok=T3ZWbRPG) 

 



 

 

   [### Superintendent as Civic Leader

 ](/news/2024/09/superintendent-civic-leader) September 01, 2024 

  [Jennifer Cheatham](/people/jennifer-cheatham) ,   [Lindsay Whorton](/people/lindsay-whorton)

 

   ![Barbara Mullen, superintendent of Rush-Henrietta Central Schools in suburban Rochester, N.Y., seeks to heal divisions while communicating truth. PHOTO COURTESY OF RUSH-HENRIETTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, HENRIETTA, N.Y.](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/21-mullen%20%282%29_0.jpg?itok=Btt3gNTT) 

 



 

 

   [### Don’t Just Listen to the Loudest Voices: Resources for Ed. Leaders

 ](https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-dont-just-listen-to-the-loudest-voices-resources-for-ed-leaders/2024/06) June 20, 2024 

  [Jennifer Cheatham](/people/jennifer-cheatham) ,   [Jenny Portillo-Nacu](/people/jenny-portillo-nacu)

 

   ![Person typing on top of pencils](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/download%20%281%29.jpg?itok=6X3_ND44) 

 



 

 

  

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### Resource Highlight 

 

**The Superintendent's Political Leadership Field Book** focuses on local politics, and includes resources for self-reflection and information about how to educate oneself on state and national politics as well.



 [ Download the Field Book arrow\_circle\_right ](/resource/superintendents-political-leadership-field-book) 

 



      ![Front cover of Superintendent's Political Leadership Field Book](/sites/g/files/omnuum12921/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-01/Superintendent%E2%80%99s%20Political%20Leadership%20Field%20Book.png?itok=8VS2A-EL)