According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly half of school-aged children in the United States are Black or Latino—yet only 13% of school principals are Black or Latino men. While representation increases slightly at the teacher level, the sharp drop-off into senior leadership roles reveals a persistent pipeline gap. We believe this disparity is not a talent issue—it’s a development issue. Too few Black and Latino male educators receive the targeted coaching, leadership training, and sponsorship needed to move from strong classroom practitioners to effective school leaders. The Rising Leaders pathway exists to close that gap—equipping high-performing educators, assistant principals, and deans with the skills, mindsets, and habits required to lead teams, drive results for students, and step confidently into the principalship and beyond.

An All-Inclusive Rising Leader Experience

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The Rising Leader Pathway is built for teachers, teacher leaders, and early-career operations and network leaders who are ready to step into their first formal leadership roles. This all-inclusive experience blends personalized coaching, foundational leadership development, and brotherhood—grounded in the management of self, others, and the work. Designed to develop the next generation of Black and Latino male leaders, the program builds a strong leadership pipeline by preparing fellows for roles such as deans, assistant principals, directors, and operations leaders.​

Rising Leadership Core Curriculum

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​Each Rising Leader fellow receives a comprehensive, high-touch leadership package:

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1. 10 one-on-one executive coaching sessions with a certified coach focused on adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, and career development.

2. 360° leadership emotional intelligence (ESCI) assessment with a personalized growth plan.

3. Mentorship from a senior Black or Latino leader who has successfully navigated the path into leadership.

4. Three in-person leadership retreats featuring 40+ hours of best-in-class professional development.

5. Capstone leadership project** to apply learning to a real challenge in their school or organization.

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Retreat learning is delivered by nationally recognized partners, including:

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1. The Management Center — Managing others and driving results through teams

2. Together Leader Group — Personal organization and time management

3. Noble Story Group — Emotionally intelligent and adaptive people leadership

4. Accelerate Learning — Systems and instructional leadership

5. Second City Works — Agile leadership, communication, and executive presence

All sessions are anchored in our core leadership pillars:

1. Management of Self:

• Using Emotional intelligence to increase self-awareness to lead from values and standards, identify self-limiting mindsets that decrease effectiveness​

   2.  Management of Others:

• Building high-performing teams 

• Using Emotional Intelligence to build social-awareness skills to meet people where they are and identify what they need, and strengthen relationship management skills to create

   3.  Management of the Work:

• Creating a high-performing culture through strong organizational and systems leadership

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​Masterclasses & Wellness
 

Rising fellows also gain access to experiences designed to support both performance and well-being:

• Using AI to increase personal effectiveness and student results

• Financial wellness workshops

• Physical and mental wellness sessions

• Career planning and promotion support

The Soul-Fulfilling Brotherhood
 

1. Early leadership can feel uncertain and isolating. The Rising Leader Pathway builds a national brotherhood of Black and Latino educators who support one another, share strategies, and grow together. This is more than a leadership program—it is a community committed to helping talented educators step into leadership, drive strong results for students, and open doors for the leaders coming behind them.
    

Program Cost: $5,000** 

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