Classes start on August 26, 2013, for the second cohort of the University of Saint Thomas (UST) Master’s Degree Program, an innovative partnership between HISD and UST geared towards producing entrepreneurial and innovative school leaders.

Graduates of this two-and-a-half-year program will have the business, education, and management skills needed to lead successful urban schools—as well as to obtain principal certification.

Classes will be taught by professors from both UST’s Cameron School of Business and the Graduate School of Education. Applications became available on April 1, and the deadline to apply is May 15, 2013. For more information, please visit the Leadership Development Department website.

Here’s what members of the first cohort had to say about the experience:

• The professors are really eager to work with us and make those classes exceptionally meaningful and aligned to what we are and what we will become as aspiring leaders. —Teacher Development Specialist Holly Holleran.
• The program has given me the tools to reshape and stretch my mental models. —Hogg Middle School Instructional Coordinator Arlene Gonzales.

To learn more, please consider attending one of the following information sessions.

• Ryan Professional Development Center, 4001 Hardy; room PL3), 5–6 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, or Thursday, April 4
• Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street; cafeteria), 5–6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, or Thursday, April 11

A related online memo is here, and a downloadable flyer is here (.pdf).

Questions may be directed to Alejandro Morúa at amorua@houstonisd.org or 713-696-0600.

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