“District Leadership Fellows gave me the gift of time.”
Dr. Kermit Ward
Superintendent, Vernon ISD
Education
This is a carousel with auto-rotating slides. Activate any of the buttons to disable rotation. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
"I shifted how I approach program development by building clearer governance structures, stakeholder roles, and success metrics for district initiatives, which has improved alignment and accountability across teams."
— Mrs. Brandi Braley
Director of Innovation
Legacy Preparatory
"I've brought back the 4DX model for achieving goals for campus and district leaders to help us all align our work and achieve better outcomes for the students we serve."
— Mrs. Laura Coaxum
Director of Professional Learning
Eanes ISD
"The Fellows program has expanded my thinking about complex challenges I face as a district-level leader. I now process things in a way that seems slower but actually helps me arrive at multiple solutions to those challenges."
— Dr. Gene Morrow Jr.
Former Executive Director of Student Support Services/Operations
DeSoto ISD
"Through the 4DX framework, the program helps ensure your work is focused, applicable, and impactful."
— Ms. Kellye Levasseur
Coordinator of Professional Learning
Arlington ISD
"As a result, my work has become more strategic, data-informed, and focused on sustaining long-term impact within the district."
— Dr. Hildelisa Diaz
Early Learning Coordinator
Arlington ISD
District Leadership Fellows Program
District leaders are navigating increasingly complex challenges while working to improve outcomes for students, educators, and communities. They are responsible for setting a vision, leading change, developing others, and creating coherence across systems. The District Leadership Fellows program is a year-long leadership fellowship designed to support leaders in this important work. 
Through cohort meetings, peer group discussions, interactive learning experiences, and a job-embedded leadership project, fellows learn alongside one another while applying new insights to a real-world challenge in their district. 
Through the fellowship, participants have the opportunity to: 
Join a Community of Leaders 
Build trusted relationships with peers who understand the realities and complexities of the work. 
Lead Through Complexity 
Gain perspective, reflect, and deepen systems thinking to navigate change and uncertainty. 
Multiply Your Impact 
Strengthen people, systems, and outcomes to create lasting change. 
Since its launch, the District Leadership Fellows program has brought together 190 leaders from 135 districts across eight states, creating a growing community of educational leaders committed to strengthening schools, districts, and communities. 
Applications for the 2027-2028 cohort will open in spring 2027. Interested in participating in the next cohort? Email Christine Ferguson at cjferguson@smu.edu to join the mailing list and receive fellowship updates and application information.
In the meantime, to learn more about the fellowship, hear from current and former fellows, and stay connected to the District Leadership Fellows community.