What is the time commitment required?
All participants are expected to attend seven extended weekend learning sessions. These sessions typically run from noon on Thursday to noon on Sunday, except for the first session, which runs from noon on Wednesday to noon on Sunday. In addition, participants are expected to commit a significant amount of time between sessions to conduct the activities outlined in their individual learning plans, consult with their mentors and faculty advisors, and complete pre-reading and performance project assignments.

How soon am I expected to leave my current job and become a superintendent?
We expect graduates to be placed as superintendents or senior executives in large urban school districts within 18 months of graduation from The Academy.

Are there specific districts I will be expected to work in once I am finished with the program?
Yes. The Broad Center is focused on building the leadership capacity of large urban districts. We make a substantial investment in each participant and expect you to seek employment in a large urban system. The Center has identified 193 school systems that are eligible districts for placement.

How was the list of eligible districts developed?
The 193 districts were selected from the following:

Criteria for District Inclusion on Broad "A" List (100 Districts):

• All districts with over 100,000 students (25 districts)
• The next largest K-12 urban districts (Locale Code 1-3) in which at least 40% of the students qualify for FRSL and 40% of students are from minority ethnic backgrounds. (60 districts)
• For any state not represented, the largest K-12 urban district with at least 15,000 students (15 districts)

Criteria for District Inclusion on Broad "B" List (93 Districts)

• All urban districts (Locale Code 1-4) with at least 20,000 students in which at least 40% of students qualify for FRSL and 40% of students are from minority or ethnic backgrounds.

What can I expect to earn as a superintendent?
The salary for an urban superintendent varies district by district. You can expect to earn anywhere from $125,000 to over $400,000 annually plus a generous benefits package.

What kind of support will The Center provide in my job search as I seek a senior executive position inside an urban school district?
One of our five curricular strands is focused on securing a job as an urban superintendent. This topic is addressed at every Academy session. Specific areas covered include the search process, resume writing, interview skills and superintendent contract negotiations. In addition, The Center has established partnerships with the top executive search firms and with the American Association of School Administrators so that we have access to information about searches across the country. We also distribute Broad Fellows' resumes to major search firms looking to place urban superintendents. Further, The Center provides a number of networking opportunities with alumni, which often provide job leads and placements in key staff positions.

What kind of support will The Center provide once I become a superintendent?
When you become a superintendent, you will have access to a number of alumni services sponsored by The Broad Center, including a retreat with your school board, mentoring from experienced superintendents and strategic support teams to audit and make recommendations in priority instructional and business areas in your district.

Why does The Center recruit non-traditional candidates?
We believe that the next generation of successful superintendents will come from a variety of professional backgrounds. We believe that the experiences and talents of senior executives from the military, government, business, higher education and the nonprofit arenas are transferable to K-12 public education. The Broad Center intends to make an important contribution to building the leadership capacity of urban districts by both deepening and widening the pool of potential candidates.

Do districts really hire non-traditional candidates?
A growing number of school boards and mayors are looking to non-traditional candidates to provide leadership and management for their districts. Non-traditional superintendents currently serve in 8 of the nation's 30 largest districts, including each of the top three -- New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Non-traditional leaders have or currently serve in the districts of Miami-Dade, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, Greenville, SC and Cobb County, GA. Seattle, Philadelphia and New York City have all had more than one non-traditional leader at the helm of their school systems.

States often require an individual to be certified before becoming a school administrator. Will the The Academy grant me certification so I can meet this requirement?
You will not receive certification from the Academy. Certification requirements are determined at the state level; there is no national certification. However, most states offer waivers for non-educators who are placed as superintendents.

I am currently a principal in a public school system. Is this program right for me?
The Broad Superintendents Academy is designed for people who are one step away from becoming an urban superintendent. The typical participant has significant leadership and management experience at the central office level or the equivalent in another field.

I currently work in a charter management organization. Is this program right for me?
We believe that senior executives in charter management organizations are excellent candidates for The Academy.

What if I am a superintendent or senior administrator in a suburban or small urban district? Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply if you are a superintendent or senior manager in a suburban or small urban district. However, after receiving the training you must seek a job in a Broad-eligible large urban district within 18 months.

I am currently employed and not certain I want to immediately leave my job to work in an urban school system. Should I still apply for the program? How do I explain my interest to my employer?
The Broad Superintendents Academy is designed for individuals who believe they would like to run a large urban school system. However, the program does not expect participants to leave their current positions immediately to work in a school district. Our expectation is that within 18 months after graduating from the program, participants will enter districts in a senior management position. As a result, many of our Fellows have identified ways to make a transition from their current career in a manner that is acceptable to their employer. While we recognize that this can be a difficult issue, we have found that it is possible to arrange for participation in The Academy if you enter into a conversation with your employer about your longterm goals and aspirations early in the application process.

I applied previously, but wasn't accepted. Do I have to submit a new application?
Yes, you will need to submit a new application with an updated resume and contact information. However, you may choose to submit the same responses to the essay questions.

How many past participants have successfully landed jobs as superintendents?
The Academy's fourth class was graduated in November 2005. To date, 13 Broad Center Fellows from the first four classes have been appointed as superintendents in urban districts.
--  Michael Glascoe, Superintendent, Paterson City, New Jersey
--  Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Superintendent, Charleston, South Carolina
--  Carl Harris, Superintendent, Durham, North Carolina
--  Melody Johnson, Superintendent, Fort Worth, Texas
--  Lillian Lowery, Superintendent, Wilmington, Delaware
--  Thandiwe Peebles, Superintendent, Minneapolis, Minnesota
--  Carlinda Purcell, Superintendent, Montgomery, Alabama
--  Wendy Robinson, Superintendent, Fort Wayne, Indiana
--  Mark Roosevelt, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
--  Abe Saavedra, Superintendent, Houston, Texas
--  Joseph Vigil, Superintendent, Albuquerque, New Mexico (deceased)
--  Randolph Ward, State Administrator, Oakland, California
--  Joseph Wise, Superintendent, Jacksonville, Florida

Several other Broad Center Fellows have been hired or promoted as senior executives in large urban districts, or have become superintendents in smaller districts across the country, including:
--  Robert Alfaro, Region Superintendent, Las Vegas, Nevada
--  Melinda Boone, Chief Academic Officer, Norfolk, Virginia
--  Tom Brady, Chief Business Operating Officer, Washington D.C.
--  Woodrow Carter, Superintendent, Fairfield-Suisun, California
--  Paula Dawning, Superintendent, Benton Harbor, Michigan
--  Patricia Green, Superintendent, North Allegany, Pennsylvania
--  Delores Hopkins, Deputy Superintendent, Jackson, Mississippi (retired)
--  Linda Lane, Deputy Superintendent, Des Moines, Iowa
--  Kathi Littman, Assistant Superintendent, Los Angeles, California
--  Susan Lusi, Superintendent, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
--  Leaura Materassi, Supervising Superintendent, Cleveland, Ohio
--  Barbara McGann, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Boston, Massachussetts
--  Nancy McGinley, Chief Academic Officer, Charleston, South Carolina
--  Natalye Paquin, Chief Operating Officer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
--  Pamela Randall, Deputy Chief Officer, Chicago, Illinois
--  LaVonne Sheffield, Chief Accountability Officer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
--  Lynn Spampinato, Deputy Superintendent, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
--  Kimberly Statham, Chief Academic Officer, Oakland, California
--  Robert Stockwell, Chief Academic Officer, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana
--  Laverne Terry, Chief Academic Officer, Hartford, Connecticut
--  Patricia Watkins, Superintendent, Central Falls, Rhode Island
--  John Welch, Deputy Superintendent, Highline, Washington

Can I receive graduate credit for attending The Broad Superintendents Academy?
The Broad Center staff will work with you to try to arrange for you to receive graduate credit. Previous participants have received credit for their participation in The Academy. This is handled on an individual basis.

I cannot relocate from my current city of residence. Is this a problem?
If accepted into The Academy, you will be expected to actively seek employment as an urban superintendent. If you are limited to a particular city, this will significantly limit your job search and, depending on the region of the country, may keep you from being accepted into The Academy.

What is the difference between The Broad Residency, The Broad Superintendents Academy, The Broad Center and The Broad Foundation?
The Broad Foundation is a national education grant-making organization. Its founder, Eli Broad, is also a founder of The Broad Center. The Broad Center is a separate, non-profit organization focused on improving the management of urban school systems. The Center runs two programs: The Broad Superintendents Academy, a 10-month part-time senior executive management course for aspiring superintendents, and The Broad Residency in Urban Education, a two-year training and job placement program for early-and mid-career professionals from private and nonprofit sectors. Along with regular training and support, Residents work for two years in mid-level executive jobs inside urban districts, and report to either the superintendent or a cabinet level official.