Apply to be a Neubauer Fellow in Educational Leadership

Neubauer Fellowship

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Thank you for your interest in The Neubauer Fellowship for Educational Leadership. Applications for the 2026-2028 Neubauer Fellowship (Cohort 9) will open November 3, 2025.

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Quick Links:  Eligibility | Commitment & Benefits | Selection Criteria | Application Timeline | Apply

 

 

Eligibility:

Applicants must be principals serving students in Philadelphia’s district, charter, or faith-based schools and possess at least one full school year of experience as principal prior to starting the program.

 

Neubauer Fellows will:

Enhance skill sets in our seven leadership competencies:

  • Continuous improvement for student success
  • Systems and operations
  • Instructional leadership
  • Professional learning
  • Equity
  • Adaptive leadership
  • Family and community engagement

Apply learning to a year-long school-based Problem of Practice

Collaborate with a cohort of exemplary leaders

 

Learning Commitments:

  • Attend a mandatory intensive six-day Summer Institute (July)
  • Engage in individualized coaching
  • Participate in scheduled events:
    • Compelling quarterly Professional Development Institutes to sharpen skills
    • School visits with and by other Fellows
    • The intimate Dinner with a Decision-Maker event series, featuring industry and organizational leaders like Jami McKeon, Chair of Morgan Lewis; Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King, Jr.; and faith-based leaders and Philadelphia-based anti-gun violence activists Pastor Carl Day and Reverend G. Lamar Stewart, who speak from their experiences of leading through real-life situations and challenges
    • An overnight trip to Washington, D.C., which includes visits to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as part of the program’s focused training on equitable leadership

Additional Benefits:

  • Fellows receive a $5,000 honorarium for completion of the two-year experience.

 

Selection Criteria:

The selection process identifies school leaders with a track record of driving improvements in student achievement and who are poised to take their skills— and school performance—to the next level. Successful candidates demonstrate the following leadership competencies:

  • Vision | Articulate a clear, compelling school-wide vision and align priorities and leadership actions to achieve that vision
  • Accountability | Hold self and others accountable for improving student outcomes based on a belief that all children can achieve at high levels
  • Results-Orientation | Set ambitious goals, monitor progress, and demonstrate persistence to overcome obstacles
  • Inclusive Culture | Create a safe, respectful, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students
  • Interpersonal Skills | Effectively communicate, collaborate, and build relationships with diverse stakeholders
  • Instructional Expertise | Facilitate student mastery through data-driven instruction and effective instructional practices
  • Capacity Building | Build capacity of teachers and staff to provide rigorous instruction for all students
  • Problem-Solving | Use data to identify and prioritize problems, inform decisions, and implement effective solutions
  • Self-Awareness and Continuous Improvement | Accurately assess own strengths and growth areas, solicit feedback, and pursue growth opportunities
  • Commitment | Demonstrate a deep commitment to Philadelphia’s schools and students
  • Equity Driven | Committed to recognizing and addressing inequities so that all children, particularly historically underserved minorities and children of color, have an educational experience that empowers them to succeed
  • Authentic and Open | Demonstrate vulnerability in reflection and maintain an open heart and mind surrounding accepting help, interpreting feedback, and working through solutions

 

Application Timeline:

  • Application Opens | November 3, 2025
  • Application Deadline | January 5, 2026
  • In-School Interviews & Site Visits | February through mid-March 2026 (Invitations will be extended by January 31, 2026)
  • Final Determination & Invitation to Participate | By April 14, 2026
  • Announcement of the 2026 Neubauer Fellows | May 2026