RYHT REEP Partnership Bridging the Gap Between Business and Education

leadership

problem-solving

entrepreneurship real-world application

The Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program

What is REEP?

The Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program is for current and aspiring school leaders in the Houston area who want to dramatically impact public education at a deeper, more systemic level.

This unique program combines a world-class business school education with an innovative educational leadership curriculum that results in transformative experiences for local K-12 leaders.

What makes it different?

  The combination of business school faculty with national education entrepreneurs

  The introduction of best business practices into the educators’ world, including the use of data, finance, marketing and systems management

What does RYHT provide?

RYHT funds the tuition expenses for a selective group of campus leaders from Houston-area school districts to participate in the following programs:

  REEP Business Fellowship for School Leaders, a business training fellowship for educators with Masters degrees

  REEP Summer Institute for School Leaders, 2-and-a-half week sessions focused on leadership

Why REEP?

RYHT knows that a strong principal is a crucial component in school change, success, and improvement.

By investing in REEP, RYHT is giving principals a new set of tools, a new framework and an extended network— all things that will move them forward to impact education one school at a time.

In partnership, REEP and RYHT are supporting Texas educational leaders in a meaningful way.

An overview of the curriculum Which can be broken down into three main components

Spring/Business

  Among the topics covered in this semester are managerial use of data, change management, finance, marketing, process management, and leadership.

  Courses provide a business framework through an educational lens so that educators can make connections with how it might play out in their own campus settings.

Summer Institute

100 hours of workshops, sessions, and trainings in 3 main areas:

  Application of leadership: Coursework addresses each candidate’s personal leadership style

  Problem-solving: Students learn problem-solving principles and apply them to education issues

  Entrepreneurship: Real world application of entrepreneurial principles as practicum is launched

Fall/Practicum

  After the summer institute, students enter the core of the practicum and participate in a forum.

  The forum is a peer mentoring session where students come together to discuss education issues as well as their own leadership growth.

  Students complete several action-oriented assignments, including school visits where they observe best practices, interview staff and follow up with written reflections.

  Students begin analyzing their own educational worlds, political landscapes and the communities they are serving.

Other aspects of the curriculum

  Students are assessed through leadership personality tests.

  Students then go through several mentoring sessions with a field advisor. Together, they work on a formal leadership development plan. The plan allows students to identify their leadership potential and track their growth.

  Students also launch a high-stakes data innovation project to apply what they’ve learned to an authentic need at their campus.

The Personal Leadership Plan

  Offers a 360 degree student leadership analysis combining personal insights with input from a colleague, a supervisor, and an outside party

  Provides feedback on students’ acquisition of the program’s leadership competencies

  Presents students with an opportunity for reflection and growth

The Innovation Project   A student-driven project that lets participants

envision an innovative change they hope to bring to a real world setting

  A chance to have an immediate impact on education

Who should apply?

  Educators who are looking for a non-traditional experience

  Educators who want to find new solutions to the issues affecting public education today

  Educators who are passionate about pushing the limits to create effective learning environments for their students

  Educators from across Houston who are working in independent school districts or charter organizations

the next step in education

Our students have a sense of urgency in figuring out

What impact has the RYHT REEP Partnership had?

  REEP and RYHT have set ambitious goals to create tangible outcomes that impact students.

  Educators who were selected from the same district and sponsored by RYHT report talking, collaborating and sharing best practices with each other more in the past six months than in previous years. The result has been stronger learning environments for students.

  The innovation projects have pushed school leaders to think critically and creatively about how to use fewer resources in the most efficient and effective way.

  REEP is developing principals to become a new core of thought leaders in the Houston area. Graduates of the program are being promoted to campus and district leadership positions soon after attending.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead