Educators in recently completed cohorts of the NISL program
A total of 70 outstanding Kentucky educators who successfully completed the nationally recognized National Institute for School and System Leadership (NISL) program during the 2025-2026 school year.
Offered through a long-standing partnership between the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), this leadership development experience equips school and district leaders with skills, strategies and vision to drive meaningful and sustainable change in their learning communities. For more than 15 years, Kentucky leaders have been transforming schools through this rigorous and research-driven program.
This year’s three cohorts represented a broad and diverse group of school leaders from across the Commonwealth including participants from 16 districts and the Kentucky Department of Education’s educational recovery staff. These leaders engaged in robust learning sessions in Lexington and participated in monthly interactive experiences that focused on building leadership capacity and transforming schools into high-performing environments that prioritize student success.
Todd Tucker, KDE educational recovery leader and NISL facilitator, reflected on the growth participants experienced throughout the program.
“Over ten months, these leaders sharpened their thinking, strengthened their commitment to students and proved that sustainable change starts with bold leadership,” he said. “They leave with systems thinking, vision and the courage to lead lasting change in the schools and districts they serve. Congratulations to the graduates!”
NISL draws from the world’s top-performing education systems and emphasizes strategic thinking and data-informed decision making, a clear vision for student-centered learning, ethical leadership and continuous improvement and practice tools to lead system-wide change through the Action Learning Process.
Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level and join the growing community of Kentucky leaders making a lasting impact on education? School and district staff interested in joining this dynamic and transformative professional learning journey are encouraged to complete NISL interest form no later than June 1. Questions regarding the training opportunity should be directed to Charlotte Jones.
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