The Promise Network at the Southern Education Foundation is an 18-month fellowship for executive-level district leaders committed to transforming systems so that every child has access to the opportunity-rich lives that they deserve. Interested candidates should review the application instructions with their intended in-district design team before applying.
Selection Approach
Candidates selected for inclusion in The Promise Network may vary by district size, demographics, budget, and location, as well as in the systems-level challenges they identify. Selection will be guided foremost by a district’s and candidate’s demonstrated need and readiness for system-level change, their commitment to build both internal leadership (how they lead within their systems) and external leadership (how they translate that leadership to broader audiences through learning about policy, advocacy, and coalition building), and their willingness to be consistent participants and contributors to the Network. Ultimately, the Network will reflect the diverse communities that constitute our Southern region and beyond.
Candidate Requirements
Candidates must:
- Hold an executive leadership role (e.g., Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer) in a Southern school district, be committed to increasing educational access and opportunity in their systems, and exhibit readiness to implement innovative, transformational change. Special consideration may be given to candidates from states outside the South on a case-by-case basis.
- Fully participate in all five (5) two-and-a-half-day Network convenings and other Network events hosted between convenings.
Identify and support an in-district design team (3–5 members). This may be an existing team. The team will be responsible for identifying a systems-level challenge within the district and designing and implementing strategies to advance progress on it. We encourage leaders to consider the capacity of team members, as active participation is expected. Candidates will be asked to provide a rationale for team composition and to describe how they will ensure the capacity and learning opportunities needed for full engagement. We strongly recommend including at least one cabinet-level leader (e.g., Chief Academic Officer, Deputy Superintendent) to promote alignment and continuity. - Complete a brief systems assessment during the early parts of fellowship to surface district needs and priorities; this will inform the design team’s challenge and align efforts with measurable improvement goals.
- Demonstrate openness to building external leadership capacity by exploring how their district-level experiences can inform broader conversations on education policy, advocacy, and regional collaboration. Fellows will be encouraged to connect their local insights to shared learning and coalition-building efforts that strengthen impact across the South.
Convening foci are continually developed and are subject to change.
Have questions about the fellowship? See our FAQ page for answers to general questions. For additional assistance, please forward inquiries to ThePromiseNetwork@southerneducation.org.