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

Julianna Docking
Julianna Docking
Class: 2024
Areas of interest: early literacy, K-12 policy and implementation, early childhood education, science of reading, organizational change
Christian Fincher
Christian Fincher
Class: 2024
Areas of interest: Post-secondary Pathways; Dual Enrollment; College Success; Coaching; Writing
Nesreen Ezzeddine
Nesreen Ezzeddine
Class: 2024
Areas of interest: Civic education, higher education access, community colleges, community engagement, democracy building.
Rachel Loe
Rachel Loe
Class: 2024
Areas of interest: K-12 policy and implementation; educational equity and justice; history and social studies curriculum development; teacher development and support; leadership and organizational change; first-generation college student readiness

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Field project

Peace by Piece

By Nesreen Ezzeddine

Growing up in a fundamental Muslim family, my exposure to socio-political discourse and narratives of conflict from a young age cultivated a deep awareness of geopolitical tensions and the harsh realities faced by individuals caught in the crosshairs of violence. Through these experiences, I gained ...

Bridging Insights for Equity: Enhancing Knowledge Integration at EdTrust-West

By Isabelle Saillard

EdTrust—West (ETW) aims to eliminate educational disparities in California by collaborating with schools, conducting research, and advocating for equitable policies. The Educator Engagement (EE) Team conducts Systemic Equity Reviews (SERs) in districts and higher education institutions, serving as a ...

The Importance of Youth Voice and Civic Engagement: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)

By Yesenia Aguilar

Civic engagement, as defined by Stanford University's Professor Thomas Ehrlich, encompasses efforts to improve community life through various processes, including both political and non-political actions. Despite a decline in civic education offerings in schools nationwide, alternative methods like ...

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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. 

Visit EdCareers