Jennifer Perry Cheatham

Jennifer Perry Cheatham is a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and serves as Faculty Chair of Field Engagement. She co-chairs the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) and the Collaborative on Political Leadership in the Superintendency. With over 25 years of experience in education leadership, Dr. Cheatham brings extensive practical knowledge to her academic role, having served as superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District, chief of instruction for Chicago Public Schools, and in various other leadership positions across multiple school systems.

Dr. Cheatham earned her Ed.D. from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education in 2010 through the Urban Superintendent's Program. Her educational background reflects her deep commitment to leadership in educational systems and her focus on equity and transformational change.

Her research focuses on education reform, addressing inequality and education gaps, K-12 school and system leadership, organizational change, and student achievement. She specializes in creating instructional coherence, cultivating strong teams, designing systems for professional learning, and strengthening routines for organizational learning. Dr. Cheatham has developed frameworks for political leadership in education that require attention to self, local community, and national context. Her work emphasizes equity-focused leadership that navigates complex political landscapes while maintaining focus on student outcomes.

Dr. Cheatham's publications reveal a consistent focus on leadership challenges in today's polarized educational landscape. Her work examines superintendent evaluation, political leadership in education, entry planning for new leaders, and strategies for maintaining focus on student learning amid political turmoil. She emphasizes proactive leadership approaches, relationship building, and self-awareness as critical skills for educational leaders navigating today's complex environment.

Dr. Cheatham advises emerging and experienced educational leaders through her executive coaching practice, focusing on leadership entry, strategy development, and team development. She has supported superintendents nationwide in crafting entry plans, developing strategic initiatives, and strengthening organizational learning routines. Her work with the Collaborative on Political Leadership in the Superintendency (2023-2025) through Claremont Graduate University represents a significant research initiative addressing contemporary challenges in educational leadership.

As co-chair of the Public Education Leadership Project and the Collaborative on Political Leadership in the Superintendency, Dr. Cheatham leads initiatives that bring together educational leaders, researchers, and practitioners to address critical challenges in school system leadership. These programs provide professional development, research opportunities, and networking for educational leaders committed to equity-focused change.