Michele Mason

Leading for Equity-Driven, Student-Focused School Leader Success

To be successful, school leaders need supportive district leaders. They need a central office team that creates the conditions for equity-driven leadership, which continuously centers students and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Closing the Distance Between Students and School System Leadership

Students know an equity champion when they see one. In recent CEL equity leadership focus groups, our CEL team asked students to describe their “hero principal.” Students shared attributes of a hero principal like “a history of fighting for social justice” with the...

Recent Posts

5 Tips for Classroom Observing: An Educational Leader’s Guide

For over two decades, the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) has partnered with educational leaders across the country who are observing teaching and learning in classrooms. We see time and again that effective classroom observations can...

Welcoming Dr. Susan Enfield as CEL’s Next Executive Director

We are excited to share that Dr. Susan Enfield will be joining the team at the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) as our new Executive Director. A respected and visionary leader, Susan brings deep expertise in educational leadership, a...

The Power of Rural Leaders: Building Schools Where Students Thrive

We at UW CEL are excited to announce the launch of the Aspiring Leaders Project, a new three-year initiative supported by a generous grant from College Spark Washington. We’re partnering with Educational Service Districts (ESDs) to ensure that rural communities have...

Finding Inspiration During These Turbulent Times

We recognize that educators are leading through unprecedented challenges. Our hearts are heavy for the students, educators, families, and communities who have been impacted by the recent executive orders around immigration, equity, transgender rights, and more. We believe as firmly as ever that every student has the right to rigorous learning environments, schools where their agency is elevated, and classrooms where they belong and are respected.

Centering Student Experience in Learning Walks

Leaders are shifting instructional practices by conducting learning walks focused on students who are least well served in schools. By centering observations on focus student experiences, leaders gain actionable insights, refine feedback to teachers, and strengthen their shared understanding of how these young people are experiencing learning.

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