Supporting the Next Generation of District Leadership
The WOCEC is pleased to share early highlights from the applicant pool for the 2026 National Aspiring District Leaders Fellowship, delivered in partnership with the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED) at Morgan State University. The official cohort announcement is scheduled for January.
This year’s applicants reflect an exceptional depth of experience and readiness for systems-level leadership. Applications were received from 16 states, underscoring the program’s expanding national reach. Forty-six percent of applicants hold a doctorate, a credential that remains rare: Only 1.6 percent of Black adults age 25 and older held a doctoral degree in the United States, and Black women represented approximately 60.3 percent of Black adults with a doctorate (Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, September 22, 2025).
“Education has always been a civil rights issue,” said Dr. Jamal Watson, WOCEC Board President and Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at Trinity Washington University. “This applicant pool demonstrates how academic excellence and leadership preparation can serve as tools for systemic change in public education.”
Consistent with the missions of the WOCEC and NCEED, 95 percent of applicants identify as Black/African American and five percent identify other racial/ethnic groups, including Latina/Hispanic, reinforcing the intentional focus on strengthening leadership pathways for those historically underrepresented in district-level roles. Applicants report an average of just over six years of principal experience, placing them at a pivotal moment between successful school leadership and broader district impact.
The National Aspiring District Leaders Fellowship prepares high-performing principals and school leaders to transition effectively into central office roles through rigorous professional learning, executive coaching, applied district-based experiences, and a powerful national network. The partnership with NCEED aligns directly with its Teachers and School Leaders Pillar, which emphasizes the recruitment, retention, and advancement of educators who drive student learning and cultivate strong school cultures and communities.
“Strong districts are built with leaders who understand both classrooms and communities. That is why our partnership with the WOCEC is critical to advancing leadership pathways that strengthen schools and student outcomes,” said Dr. Meria Carstarphen, director of NCEED.
The WOCEC looks forward to announcing the finalists for its 2026 National Aspiring District Leaders Fellows in January and to continuing this important work with NCEED to advance equity-focused leadership at scale.
Welcome WOCEC’s New Board Member, Dr. Rehva Jones
Welcome to Dr. Jones! She serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Professional Management Consulting Services (PMCS) and is a distinguished business leader, catalytic strategist, and expert problem-solver with more than 20 years of experience in operations and performance management, strategic planning, and organizational development across government, private, nonprofit, and educational institutions. Renowned for delivering results in complex environments, Dr. Jones has led large-scale initiatives that drive operational excellence, digital transformation, cost savings, and sustained organizational improvement. Her strategic insight and hands-on leadership have been instrumental in strengthening PMCS’s growth, impact, and competitive edge.
Prior to joining PMCS, Dr. Rehva held senior leadership roles in local government, higher education, and national nonprofit organizations. At Trinity Washington University, she served as Director of Business Programs and department chair for the School of Business and Graduate Studies, overseeing multiple undergraduate and graduate programs and leading the successful launch of high-quality online offerings. For nearly a decade at the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, she served as Strategic Planning and Performance Officer, where she led major initiatives—including the student enrollment audit and enrollment and residency operations—and was recognized with the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Award for Distinguished Government Service. She also served as Director of Data and Evaluation at America Achieves, aligning strategy, budget, and operations through performance metrics and program evaluation. Dr. Jones holds a BS in Organizational Management from Mercy College and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, is a Certified Public Manager through George Washington University, and completed her doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Wyoming.
The WOCEC and Vanderbilt University
For the last year, the WOCEC has worked closely with three doctoral students from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development – Annette Ortiz, Chezdis Sanchez Bors, and Tracey Robinson – as they have worked on a research question related to women of color in school and district leadership roles. On November 21, they delivered a capstone presentation to faculty and other students at Vanderbilt that was titled Cultural Wealth to Systemic Change: Assessing the Impact of WOCEC’s Leadership Development Program.
“We have been so glad that these three scholars chose the WOCEC for this work,” said WOCEC president Dr. Stephanie Wood-Garnett. “While there are studies and papers that document the critical need for and importance of diverse leadership in schools and school districts, not enough has been written about organizations such as the WOCEC and the role they play in promoting and supporting women of color leaders.”
Tracey Robinson, a director for learning design and development at the Association for American Medical Colleges, shared, “We have to offer a counter-narrative to deficit-based approaches by highlighting the assets women of color bring to leadership. Organizations like the WOCEC illuminate how these leaders navigate professional risks and bring valuable knowledge and skills that make them exceptional leaders.”
WOCEC Executive Coach Dr. Danita Ishibashi at the NABSE National Conference
Dr. Ishibashi presented at the 53rd annual NABSE conference in Chicago, leading a session titled Leading Intergenerational Teams Through an Emotional Intelligence Lens. The workshop explored the ways that educational leaders can strengthen communication, navigate generational differences, and build trust by centering emotional intelligence as a core leadership skill. Participants engaged in reflection and dialogue around self-awareness, team dynamics, and practical strategies for leading across four to five generations in today’s workforce. “I was especially grateful for the support of WOCEC Cohort 2 member Augustina West,” said Dr. Ishibashi, “who attended and supported the session.”
Donate to the WOCEC! Support Diverse School and District Leaders
Donate Now: Why Supporting Women Leaders Matters—and How You Can Help
Decades of research affirm what we see every day in practice: diverse women leaders strengthen organizations, improve decision-making, and positively impact student achievement. Yet women of color continue to be significantly underrepresented in senior-level educational leadership roles.
The WOCEC’s mission is to change that reality. We cultivate a high-impact professional learning network that strengthens executive leadership skills, builds enduring peer and mentor relationships, and prioritizes wellness and sustainability for women navigating complex leadership roles.
Philanthropic support makes this work possible. Donations to WOCEC directly fund:
- Executive coaching that supports women leaders through critical career transitions and challenges
- Curated professional resources and books grounded in research and practice
- Convenings and professional development experiences that foster learning, connection, and collective impact
When you give to the WOCEC, you are investing in women leaders who are shaping schools, districts, and communities for the better.
Join us in making a lasting difference. Your contribution ensures that women leaders have the support, tools, and networks they need to lead boldly and effectively—now and for years to come.
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