Phone: (901)678-2593 
Fax: (901)678-1526      

 Mail: Center for Urban School Leadership
    College of Education, Health and Human Sciences                 
   University of Memphis             
 4111 South MSU B Street       
        Memphis, Tennessee 38152-4180  

Welcome to the Memphis Leadership Fellows Program - The program that's changing the future of public school leadership

Imagine teaming successful school leaders and business executives with aspiring principals to deliver an intense and inspiring program with one goal in mind: to ensure all schools are lead by highly qualified principals. That's what the Memphis Leadership Fellows Program is designed to achieve. This unique program, a joint venture between local area schools and the University of Memphis, will pave the way to providing every public school with exceptional leaders. The result: leadership that unites administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community leaders in a common quest to provide quality education for all students.

Participants for this prestigious program are nominated and then selected through a rigorous evaluation process. Those selection are the brightest "up-and-comers" the district has with proven track records and aspirations of becoming principals.

The participants are known as Fellows and are selected annually to embark on a year-long experience that promises to change the way they view themselves and the leadership role school principals play. The program goes beyond the obvious and challenges individuals on a wide range of disciplines with special focus on team problem solving.

Fellows are sent as a team to Team Trek, where they are focused to solve problems in extraordinary situations, outside the confines of a comfortable office or meeting room.

Program Components

Rigorous Recruitment and Selection
For consideration, candidates must hold a valid principal's license, be nominated by individuals who currently hold leadership positions in the partner school districts, complete an extensive application, document teaching excellence and leadership activities, and complete interviews, an exam, and a writing sample.

Intensive Experiential Learning Orientation
Fellows begin the program by attending a four-day outdoor experiential learning center with faculty and program coaches. Team Trek is a nationally recognized leadership development program used by major business and industries.

Year-long Professional Development
All Fellows will serve as assistant principals or in other leadership positions. In addition, two days each month are spent in "rotations" at elementary, middle and high schools, and central office administration.

Mentor Principals / Administrators
Highly successful principals and administrators will serve as mentors for the internships and as mentor faculty for courses and seminars.

Cohort Group
Fellows are selected as cohort group and create a community of aspiring leaders through program activities and a shared commitment to promoting high levels of student achievements.

High Quality Coursework / Seminars
Aligned with national standards, the program offers intensive, case-based and problem-based coursework that focuses on instructional leadership, organizational management, school law and finances, and "principal leadership".

Team Problem Solving
Each of the teams will be given an identified "problem of practice". The team will work on the identified problem for five months and produce a written report including recommendations that will be presented at an Executive staff meeting.

Time Commitment
Fellows will need to commit themselves to an ambitious schedule of meetings, reading, and experiences. Participants will be released from official duties for 2 days per month toward their program obligations. Some additional evenings and weekend will be necessary to complete the curriculum.