About Us

About Cahn Fellowship

Cahn Fellowship encompasses much more than the Principals we serve. Our Programs foster a community of educators and administrators who ultimately influence the outcomes for inner-city students in their education and their approach to life. But, it is not simply an experience that ends with a program’s completion. It is a continuous culture of advancement for the participants, past participants, and the people who seek to bring more to our educational systems. The evidence of our success is apparent in the resulting focus and achievements of our Cohorts and in their continued involvement and support of Cahn Fellowship. We believe the success of the Principals is directly reflected by the success of their students.

To meet our goals, the Cahn Fellowship is supported by a unique structure, including a Board of Directors, Faculty, Alumni Advisors, Guest Speakers, Staff, Advisory Councils, and Supporters and Partners — all working together to provide an experience unlike any other.

Our Mission

Cahn Fellowship provides advanced leadership development and recognition in large metropolitan areas to strong, talented school leaders to improve public education.

Our Core Beliefs

  1. School leadership has an enormous impact on student outcomes.

  2. The greatest leverage is with high-performing principals.

  3. Our investment in principals and aspiring leaders increases retention and leadership pipelines.

Our History

The original program was founded in 2002 as a result of the generosity and vision of Charles and Jane Cahn.

Charles Cahn believes that, in recognizing and supporting excellence in education, the entire system can improve. Cahn Fellowship inducted its first cohort of Cahn Fellows into the Programs in 2003. The Programs enable Fellows to become even more effective principals while leveraging their talents to support aspiring school leaders.

Cahn Fellowship has roots in New York City and now serves educational leaders in cities across the country.

Our Theory of Action

If the program

  •   engages principals in a collaborative network of peers,

  •   increases their ability to build capacity, and

  •   improves teacher effectiveness and school culture,

then we will both increase the retention of the strongest principals in schools and school systems and develop a pool of future leaders, ultimately elevating student learning and achievement.