Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies

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

Alisa Chen headshot
Alisa Chen
Class: 2025
Areas of interest: K-12 Experiential Education, Social Emotional Wellbeing, Career and College Readiness, Garden Education, Social Infrastructure, Systems Change, Community-Based Partnerships, Equity in Education
Victor Chan headshot
Victor Eliot Hua Hong Chan
Class: 2025
Areas of interest: Education Policy Implementation
Illana Zauderer headshot
Illana Zauderer
Class: 2025
Areas of interest: Purpose, Connection, Neuroscience in Education, Student Emotional Health, Mindfulness, Wellbeing, Teacher Compensation and Mentorship, Transformational Leadership in Higher Education, Play and Artful Thinking in Schools, Education Policy
Julia Perlmutter headshot
Julia Perlmutter
Class: 2025
Areas of interest: K-12 Policy and Implementation, Deeper Learning, Experiential/Project-Based Learning, Civic Education, Teacher Retention, Research-Practice Partnerships

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Field project

MEETING STUDENTS' WHOLE-CHILD NEEDS:SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS STRATEGIES WITH EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE

By Hellen Xavier Gomes de Souza

This report examines the implementation and effectiveness of community schools in California, New York, Maryland, and Florida, with a particular focus on strategic education governance and the role of community engagement in improving educational outcomes. The study utilizes the OECD Strategic ...

Designing our North Stars: Co-Creating a Center-Wide Learning Outcomes Framework for the Haas Center for Public Service

By Kyle-Avory Muña

The Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University has been instrumental in developing two key pedagogical frameworks, the Principles of Ethical and Effective Service and the Pathways of Public Service, which guide public service programming at Stanford and beyond. As we approach the tenth ...

College Access: Low-income, high-achieving students feel lost during the college admissions process. What unique obstacles and opportunities do they face?

By Brandon Tineo

This project explores the unique challenges and opportunities faced by low-income, high-achieving students during the college admissions process. Building on my personal experience and background, I focused on identifying the key barriers these students encounter and provide actionable ...

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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. 

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