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Students & Alumni

POLS students are ambitious and action-oriented. They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, including teaching, school systems leadership, business, education technology, and government. What they share is a desire to develop the skills and knowledge they need to be effective leaders.

POLS cohorts bring together small, diverse groups of students to widen each other’s view of leadership in various domains of education. Peer learning and support form a key component of the program, modeling the connectivity and collaboration crucial to education leadership. Moreover, POLS students graduate with a network of connections that extends beyond the program year.

Our students

Joanna Weingast
Joanna Weingast
Class: 2023
Areas of interest: K-12 education policy and implementation, equity in education, evidence-based and student-centered policymaking, assessment strategy, systems change, educational data analysis
Kate Berkley
Kate Berkley
Class: 2023
Areas of interest: postsecondary access and persistence, adult and non-traditional learners, workforce development, upskilling and reskilling, career exploration programs for high school students, cross-sector partnerships, organizational leadership, research-practice partnerships, philanthropy
Gabriela Mottesi
Gabriela Mottesi
Class: 2023
Areas of interest: special education, multi-language learners, K-12 and higher education policy, teacher recruitment and retention, systems change
Anthony Sanford II
Anthony Sanford II
Class: 2023
Areas of interest: nonprofit leadership; equity in education; diversity, equity, and inclusion; higher education; education consulting; organizing; community-based partnerships; liberation

View profiles of all students

Field project

COHERENCE FROM THE TOP: HOW INVESTING IN SCHOOL BOARDS MATTERS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Briana Mullen

We have potentially missed an important piece of the puzzle that is necessary when considering how to create the conditions for learning at the greatest number of schools possible; the people...


10,000 Degrees Project

Belen Gutierrez

My project was to support the implementation study of the 10,000 Degrees non-profit in San Francisco through the John Gardner Center. Throughout Winter and Spring quarters I updated literature on...


The Healing Power of Nature: Increasing Access to East Bay Regional Parks’ Health Benefits for Oakland’s Diverse Residents

Clare McLaughlin and Meg Pantell

The East Bay Regional Park system (EBRP) is an expansive natural space in Oakland, a racially and economically diverse urban community in California. This study interviewed local park visitors to...


Life after POLS

POLS graduates are well prepared to lead in a wide range of roles and contexts. Alumni work in school and district settings, higher education, education philanthropies, corporate and educational recruiting, and government. Below are a few examples of positions held by POLS alumni.

Higher education

Assistant Dean of Students, Oberlin College
Native American Liaison, Stanford Undergraduate Admissions Office
Instructor, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

K–12 leadership

Assistant Principal, Noble Network of Charter Schools
Literacy Coordinator, Harlem Children’s Zone
Academic Program Manager, Summit Public Schools

School networks, districts, government

Data Analyst, Boston Public Schools
Assistant Budget and Policy Analyst, State of Oregon
Legislative Assistant, United States Senate

Educational intermediaries and ed tech

Instructional Design Specialist, Coursera
Program Manager, Reading Partners
Education Analyst, Emerson Collective

The Graduate School of Education’s EdCareers office provides career education and counseling, job listings, career fairs and other resources to GSE students and alumni. 

Visit EdCareers

What you need to know

Admission requirements

To learn more about requirements for admission, please visit the Application Requirements page.

Financing your education

To learn more about the cost of the program and options for financial support, please visit Financing Your Master’s Degree on the admissions website.

Contact admissions

For admissions webinars and to connect with the admission office, see our  Connect and Visit page.

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