Program Participants

The Wisdom at Work (WAW) Fellowship is designed for teams of 4–6 school leaders who are deeply committed to the flourishing of their school communities but often find that daily demands make that vision hard to realize. Participants have come from diverse K-12 settings, including traditional school districts, independent schools, and charter schools across the U.S & abroad.

Benefits:

  • World-class wisdom-based executive education

  • Opportunity to participate in a research-practice partnership 

  • Gaining a networked community of practice of like-minded leaders

  • Fellows earn a stipend for participation

Program Focus

There’s a powerful connection between leading with practical wisdom and promoting flourishing in school communities. This executive education program, Wisdom at Work: Revitalizing School Leadership seeks to illuminate and leverage that connection, refining the practices and protocols that guide practically wise and formative decision-making especially amidst the daily difficulties and stresses school leaders face. Implicit in every decision is an opportunity which can be harnessed to promote character, community, and flourishing in school communities. 

In our multi-year, interactive program, school leaders will be equipped with practical wisdom, or the ability to align noble aims with practical action for the good of all. Leaders will learn both why and how to achieve the grand goals, creating transformative environments in their schools. School leaders will be trained on the Practical Wisdom Framework, which has been developed for over 20 years in a real school. 

Program Experience 

Over the course of two years, participating teams will receive iterative, interactive, and personalized professional  formation. Through 11 full-cohort “Wisdom Lab” meetings, individual school team-meetings and ongoing opportunities for development, teams will benefit from expert guidance and ancient wisdom fit for a modern school. The sustained and relational format fosters shared learning and collective problem solving as teams:

  • Learn and apply a practical, wisdom-driven leadership framework

  • Receive personalized coaching to navigate  real-time school based challenges

  • Join a supportive community of peers for shared learning and growth

WAWF empowers leadership teams to lead with mission-aligned clarity, purpose, and agility—so their schools become places where both students and staff can thrive.

Unlike one-off online courses, Wisdom at Work is designed for sustained, relational learning. School leaders participate in teams from their own schools, bringing real-time leadership challenges into the program. Over two full academic years, they engage in a carefully sequenced series of high-touch, interactive modules—not static or self-paced, but synchronous workshops facilitated live by the project team. This structure fosters cohort learning, collective problem-solving, and shared leadership practice in a broader Community of Practice.

Sustained Opportunities for Growth

Join Our Community of Practice

Sustain your learning. Strengthen your network. Shape the future of the work.

After completing the WAW Fellowship, fellows have the exciting opportunity to continue to be formed by the Practical Wisdom Framework and a strong network of other school leaders who have completed the fellowship. Our Community of Practice provides a place for fellows to continue learning and start contributing to the broader Wisdom at Work community. To stay connected and stimulated Fellows may:

  • Join quarterly virtual gatherings to reflect, reconnect, and co-design tools

  • Contribute to the online library by testing and refining tools 

  • Share stories of Wisdom at Work via podcasts, blog posts, and case development

  • Act as ambassadors by referring new schools and shaping outreach strategy

  • Mentor future leaders and consider applying to become a Licensed Facilitator

Become a Licensed Facilitator

All fellows have the opportunity to teach the Practical Wisdom Framework within their schools and leaders may elect to apply to Wisdom at Work’s Facilitators’ Licensure Program to become certified to teach and spread this important work beyond their school communities. As part of their training fellows will receive targeted coaching, participate in modules as co-facilitators, and build the capacity to launch new Wisdom at Work cohorts.