#  PELP Summer Institute 

 



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#  On-Campus Institute: July 6-10, 2026 

## What You Will Learn

   ![Attendees at a classroom lecture](/sites/g/files/omnuum5016/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/pelp/files/summer-video-screen.png?itok=6HblUtyu) 

 

By adapting proven management concepts to the unique challenges of your school system, you will learn to build and sustain high-performing district teams, while enhancing both individual and group leadership skills. Moreover, you will leave the program with the tools and insights to formulate and execute a strategy that elevates performance across all district schools.

## Who Should Attend

The PELP Summer Institute is designed for teams of eight participants, including the superintendent/CEO, and other district personnel from both the district-level and school-level leadership ranks. The PELP Project focuses upon U.S. large urban school districts, and teams are organized around a strategic problem of practice. Team composition is selected by the superintendent and can include a range of actors in the school district to include but not limited to senior cabinet leaders, principals, teacher leaders, union presidents, school board members, community liaisons, and instructional specialists.



 

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###    Cost and Location  expand\_more  

- $39,000 for a team of 8
- The 2026 institute will be held on the HBS campus
- Districts are responsible for travel to and from Boston

 

 



###    Teaching Team  expand\_more  

For questions about the Summer Institute, please reach out to [Jennifer Cheatham](mailto:jennifer_cheatham@gse.harvard.edu) or [John J-H Kim](mailto:jkim@hbs.edu).

 

  [### Jennifer Perry Cheatham

 ](/people/jennifer-perry-cheatham)Senior Lecturer on Education

Harvard Graduate School of Education

 

 

 

   ![Jen Cheatham](/sites/g/files/omnuum5016/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-04/Jen%20Cheatham_1.jpg?itok=L-lzC1NY) 

 

 

 

   [### John J-H Kim 

 ](/people/john-j-h-kim)Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Harvard Business School

 

 

 

   ![John J-H Kim](/sites/g/files/omnuum5016/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-04/John%20J-H%20Kim_0.jpg?itok=cSLjvza2) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 



###    Testimonial  expand\_more  

 

   

The environment at PELP creates a unique and special forum for school district leaders. The most valuable elements of the program are the experiences with world-class faculty, time together as a district team, and time with other districts – away from the day-to-day demands of our district jobs. The program helped us define what success would look like and got us thinking about goals and strategy.

 

Arne Duncan

Former U.S. Secretary of Education and prior PELP participant as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



###    How to Apply  expand\_more  

Superintendents or designees can complete the [application online](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0677ZXukXmIELJQ) by February 7, 2026 to express your district’s interest in attending the 2026 PELP Summer Institute.

 

 [ Apply Now arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0677ZXukXmIELJQ) 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

##  More Information on the Summer Institute 

 



  [### Summer Institute Program Information: HBS Exec Ed

 ](https://www.exed.hbs.edu/public-education-leadership-project/) 

  [### PELP Summer Institute 2026 Brochure

 ](https://www.exed.hbs.edu/Documents/public-education-leadership-project-brochure.pdf)