2025 Breakthrough Leadership Institute empowers educators and school leadership

Among school-related factors, effective school leadership is the second most influential element impacting student learning after teaching, according to a Wallace Foundation report. The 2025 Breakthrough Leadership Institute (BLI), hosted by USC Rossier, is designed to close this gap by equipping school leaders with the strategies, tools and insights necessary to navigate today’s complex educational landscape. This immersive event, taking place July 13 to 16, 2025, will bring together forward-thinking educators and administrators committed to building a more equitable and innovative future for all students.

USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera envisioned Breakthrough Leadership Institute as an interactive gathering with a focus on equity, innovation and leadership. He worked with a team of facilitators to offer a transformative experience designed for educators at various stages of their careers.

A distinguishing feature of the institute is the engagement with experienced superintendents as session facilitators. Each participating group and individual has a thoughtfully assigned facilitator and dedicated work space to construct their problem of practice. Uninterrupted time and space provides the right conditions for disrupting status quo patterns, reimagining new possibilities, innovating necessary structures, and advocating for the most vulnerable students. Breakthrough Leadership Institute plan development facilitators and moderators include:

• Christina Kishimoto EdD, Founder & CEO, Voices for Equity, Empowering Women for Policy Leadership; Clinical Professor, Former Superintendent
• David Cash EdD ’08, USC Rossier Assistant Dean of Leadership; Clinical Professor, Former Superintendent
• Greg Franklin EdD ’97, Clinical Professor, Former Superintendent
• Maria Ott PhD, USC Rossier Irving R. and Virginia A. Melbo Chair in Education Administration; Clinical Professor, Former Superintendent
• Rudy Crew EdD, Nationally-acclaimed educator & author; Clinical Professor, Former Superintendent & Chancellor
• Vivian Ekchian EdD ’19, Adjunct Associate Professor; Former Superintendent

In addition, participants benefit from a moderator to guide them seamlessly from keynote speakers, case study sessions, community building, and facilitation sessions. As a former superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), BLI co-creator Darline Robles PhD will serve as moderator.

“The Breakthrough Leadership Institute is a vital platform for educators to explore new strategies and insights to address the challenges facing their students and our schools,” said Noguera. “It’s been designed to equip leaders with the tools and strategies they need to make a lasting difference.”

In addition to Noguera, featured speakers include:

• Mary Helen Immordino-Yang EdD ’08, Director, USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE)
• Shon Hiatt PhD, Associate Professor, USC Marshall
• Eugenia Mora-Flores EdD, Professor of Clinical Education, USC Rossier
• Stephanie Dewing PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, USC Rossier
• Royel Johnson PhD, Professor, USC Rossier
• Carl Cohn EdD, Award-winning Retired Superintendent; Senior Research Fellow; Clinical Professor
• Theodore Burnes PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Expert in supports for non-binary youth

“The Institute is a unique opportunity for educators to engage with one another, share best practices and renew their commitment to leading for equity,” said Robles. “We are shaping a future where every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed."

What participants can expect at the event:

• Engaging workshops with national thought leaders
• Collaborative networking opportunities with like-minded professionals
• Practical tools and strategies to address real-world challenges in education
• Focus on leadership development with a commitment to equity and inclusion
• Uninterrupted time dedicated to developing an actionable engagement strategy

“Sometimes teams get stuck admiring problems. The Breakthrough Leadership Institute helped us get ‘unstuck’ by helping us see our challenges and opportunities differently,” said Wes Smith EdD ’05, Newport-Mesa Unified School District superintendent. “We started this school year focused and with a new, positive energy and commitment to improving systems to benefit our students thanks to BLI.”

Visit and register at 2025 Breakthrough Leadership Institute for more information.