Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • January 2003 (Revised July 2005)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Finding a CEO for the School District of Philadelphia: Searching for a Savior?

  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:26
ShareBar

Abstract

Following the largest state takeover of a local public school district in U.S. history, a new governing body must find a CEO to effect a large-scale turnaround in the Philadelphia school district. This case examines the context of large urban public schools and explores the educational and general management challenges facing leaders at the senior management and governing levels. Covers issues such as the politicization of urban school boards, school finance, nontraditional candidates for superintendencies, privatization and educational management organizations, improvement of educational outcomes, state-mandated testing, and stakeholder management.

Keywords

Leading Change; Restructuring; Education; Crisis Management; Education Industry; Philadelphia

Citation

Childress, Stacey M., Stig Leschly, and Purnima Kochikar. "Finding a CEO for the School District of Philadelphia: Searching for a Savior?" Harvard Business School Case 803-072, January 2003. (Revised July 2005.)
  • Find it at Harvard

More from the Author

    • April 2010
    • Faculty Research

    School of One: Reimagining How Students Learn

    By: Stacey M. Childress, James Weber and Matthew Adams Haldeman
    • March 2010 (Revised January 2011)
    • Faculty Research

    Public Education in New Orleans: Pursuing Systemic Change through Entrepreneurship

    By: Stacey M. Childress and James Weber
    • January 2010
    • Faculty Research

    Pratham - Every Child in School and Learning Well

    By: Srikant M. Datar, Stacey M. Childress, Rachna Tahilyani and Anjali Raina
More from the Author
  • School of One: Reimagining How Students Learn By: Stacey M. Childress, James Weber and Matthew Adams Haldeman
  • Public Education in New Orleans: Pursuing Systemic Change through Entrepreneurship By: Stacey M. Childress and James Weber
  • Pratham - Every Child in School and Learning Well By: Srikant M. Datar, Stacey M. Childress, Rachna Tahilyani and Anjali Raina
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College