AScend Fellowship
About
AScend is a highly selective fellowship specifically curated for Chief Academic Officers, Chief Schools Officers, and senior academic leaders who are navigating the unique challenges of portfolio leadership.
The fellowship brings together a national cohort of peers to build the systems-thinking, strategic influence, and leadership capacity needed to drive outcomes across multiple schools and communities.
AScend is designed for senior academic leaders who are leading across multiple schools and are responsible for driving excellence at scale.
Chief Academic Officers (CAOs)
Chief Schools Officers (CSOs)
Senior Academic Leaders (Executive Directors, VPs, etc.)
Who AScend Is For
The AScend Experience
Immersive experiences to build leadership skills, address complex academic challenges, and connect deeply with peers.
4 IN-PERSON CONVENINGS
3 VIRTUAL TOUCH-POINTS
Strategic sessions between convenings for real-time support, shared learning, and accountability.
1 NATIONAL COHORT
A curated community of CAOs, CSOs, and senior academic leaders from across the country.
14 MONTHS OF GROWTH
A structured 14-month journey designed to elevate your leadership and expand your impact across your schools or organization.
Cohort-Based Learning
A national cohort community that learns together, support one another, and drives collective impact.
Systems-Focused Leadership
Build the skills to lead across complex portfolios and drive system-wide impact.
Deeper Impact Together
Share what works, challenge what’s possible, and champion excellence for all students.
Elevating the Field
AScend is designed to develop the next generation of C-level leaders who will shape the future of education.
What to Expect
Why AScend?
The role of the academic leader has never been more important—or more complex. Today's CAOs, CSOs, and senior academic leaders are responsible for shaping instructional vision, developing school leaders, driving improvement across multiple schools, and ensuring students thrive academically and culturally.
Yet while expectations have grown, dedicated development opportunities for leaders in these roles remain rare. Many are navigating these challenges in isolation, learning through trial and error while carrying responsibility for outcomes across an entire organization.
AScend was created to offer something different: a space for senior academic leaders to learn with peers who understand the work, wrestle with real challenges, and strengthen the leadership practices needed to create lasting impact for students, schools, and communities.
Frequently
Asked Questions
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We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
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We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
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We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
Click below for additional details on the fellowship experience, structure, and program cost.
Learn More About AScend
Ready to get started?