UCLA Women’s School Leadership Academy (WSLA)
WSLA is a pioneering program that arose from small proportion of women in the top roles in K-12 education. The number of women school leaders has remained static. They comprise less than one-third of the school superintendents. Although women’s share of doctorates awarded in education has grown to over two-thirds in 2024, women have continued to be underrepresented
in top educational leadership roles.
WSLA was designed by K—12 leaders to help educators to increase the scope of their leadership. WSLA provides practical sessions on leadership and critical issues in K – 12 schools. The Academy focuses on collaborating for change, problem solving, career expansion, communications, promoting inclusion for all, and navigating professional and personal lives. In
these rapidly changing times, WSLA members connect to critical issues in schools with expert practitioners. Issues include decreasing student enrollment, fiscal difficulties, Artificial Intelligence, hiring and retaining talent, and social and political polarization.
WSLA participants learn from each other and from instructors/facilitators who are leaders in Pre-K – 12 arenas. Participants interact with transformational leaders of schools and school organizations.
Educators participate in WSLA to strengthen their leadership skills and to expand their
confidence in their own ability to lead in times of change. Participants collaborate on solving problems together and on reducing inequities in their own schools and districts. Small mentoring circles enable participants to discuss and brainstorm issues related to their leadership objectives and actions. Members provide support for each other.
Some participants consider new career options while others expand their leadership effectiveness in their current positions.
Academy processes include leadership activities, readings, videos, considering solutions to problems at their sites, facilitating a meeting, and working on their professional paths.
Six WSLA Throughlines
Transformational leadership
Communicating for impact
Leading for success across the organization
Promoting inclusion for all
Supporting each other
Leadership career focus
Six Critical Issues in K -12 Schools and Districts
Fiscal problems
Hiring and retaining talent
Declining student enrollment
Artificial Intelligence
Navigating the political and social landscape
Inclusion
Norms of Acceptance
Minimum of five years of leadership experience in a K—12 related school (public,
charter or independent), school district or school organization
A master’s degree, a doctoral degree or the equivalent beyond a bachelor’s degree
A commitment to inclusion for all
A commitment to using leadership knowledge and skills to improve educational
outcomes
A commitment to supporting women’s efforts to increase their value to their
organizations
Application Materials
Email the following three documents to Dr. Linda Rose at lrose@g.ucla.edu :
- A letter of intent that briefly describes your leadership experience related to K—12
education, your commitment to improving student outcomes, your short-term and long-
term goals for doing the UCLA Women’s School Leadership Academy. Identify any
specific topics for the Academy that are of interest to you. One-to-two pages. - A current resume.
- Application form (below).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 5, 2025
Registration fee paid by January 20, 2026 per person – $2000
Registration fee paid by January 20, 2026 for two or more participants from the same school or district/organization – $1,800 per person
Registration fee per person paid after January 20, 2026 – $2,200 per person
Payment may be made by check, credit card or through a Purchase Order
*Please contact Linda Rose (lrose@g.ucla.edu) if four people or more plan to register from the same school or district/organization plan to enroll in the Academy.
ZOOM SATURDAYS. 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- February 7, 2026
- May 30, 2026
ZOOM TUESDAY EVENINGS. 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- February 10 & 24
- March 3, 17, and 31
- April 7, 21, 28
- May 5 & 19
For questions, contact Dr. Linda Rose at lrose@g.ucla.edu.
“More women leaders need to be instrumental in the critical decisions that improve organizational and student outcomes. WSLA helps women to leverage their experiences and expertise in leadership positions. WSLA seeks to act as a cornerstone of creating support for women. Many women educators are deeply engaged in the complex issues confronting schools and educational organizations, but their voices are often neglected when it comes to policy development and decision-making. One of the key goals of WSLA is to provide a platform to raise the voices of women leaders in education.”
Linda Rose, Ph.D., Founder WSLA
