If you are looking to transition into a new role or want to hone the skills you already use as a teacher, we encourage you to learn more about Bank Street’s MSEd in Progressive Leadership. Becoming an educational leader takes the courage to see what is possible and realign your daily work so you are leading with purpose in an evolving landscape. With this degree, you gain a powerful opportunity to advocate for all, helping every student and teacher thrive.
The Progressive Leadership program at Bank Street prepares you for this shift. It builds your capacity to create high-impact professional development, mentor colleagues, and advocate for social justice. This experience stretches your vision and deepens your skills, meeting the passion you already bring to your students, their families, and your community.
Learn to Lead with Purpose
The program encourages you to dream big so you can make a real difference in your specific setting. By deepening your understanding of adult development and coaching, you can effectively mentor colleagues and support the growth of the whole person. Through coursework, fieldwork, and culminating projects, you become a leader who knows how to turn vision into direct action while advocating for your staff. You will refine your strategic planning and management skills while learning how to realize a vision of high-quality education that serves your entire community.
A Lifelong Network of Support
You move through this journey alongside a cohort that becomes a primary source of strength and professional growth. Working closely with faculty advisors and peers, you connect big ideas to practice and examine the real-time challenges you face in your current position. This collaborative environment functions as a sanctuary where you can strengthen your ability to lead thoughtful, equitable change.
This support extends far beyond graduation through Bank Street’s national alumni network of leaders who share your commitment to progressive education and provide long-term professional connections.
Voices from the Field
Our alumni demonstrate how this transformation looks in the real world.
Intentional, hands-on practice the program provides helped Orville Ingram, executive director of Special Education & Pupil Personnel Services at East Ramapo Central School District, to bridge the gap between academic theory and the lived reality. He said, “The connection to practice was essential for my growth. I wasn’t just reading about leadership; I was able to apply my learning in real-time to the daily realities and challenges of school leadership within my own building.”
Personal history and professional identity often intersect to create a more authentic leader. Angelica Perez, ECE program director at Brooklyn Community Services, credits the program with helping her find her power. She said, “Bank Street really helped me to find my voice and to be able to advocate for myself and for others. I learned the importance of my story and how it connects to the work I do every day as a leader in my community.”
Effective leadership requires a commitment to social justice that moves beyond theory into daily classroom interactions. Dr. Princess Francois, founder of Unlock Black Journey with Dr Franny and educational consultant at Generation Ready, found that the program helped her become a changemaker. She explained that her Bank Street experience was “pivotal in helping me understand the importance of social justice in education and how to lead with an equity-focused lens. The program provided the foundation I needed to ensure every student feels seen, valued, and heard in their learning environment.”
School leaders must often balance high-level vision with the intricate needs of a complex organization. Carolyne Quintana, CEO of Teaching Matters, said, “The program prepared me to navigate complex systems while keeping the humanity of students at the center of every decision. It helped me become a leader who is both visionary and practical, giving me the tools to handle the logistical demands of a school without losing sight of our core values.”
We’d love to tell you more about this career-changing program—the Admissions team is always available for a one-on-one conversation. Our contact information is at the bottom of this page.
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