Dear Applicant: 

This letter provides an overview of the Education Leadership Institute -Jefferson Parish (ELI), a program 
designed to build your leadership skills and knowledge about the educational policy landscape in Jefferson and 
in Louisiana. The ultimate goal of ELI is to build a cohort of graduates who possess the necessary policy and 
leadership skills to advocate as community leaders or serve as elected leaders in education both locally and 
statewide. 

In order to participate in ELI, you must live and/or work in the greater Jefferson area and have a desire and 
vested interest to improve Jefferson’s educational landscape. You must also commit to attending ELI over five 
Saturdays during April-June. Each session will last four-six hours and include highly interactive discussions with 
local educational leaders. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to participants. In addition to the Saturday 
sessions, five experience sessions are planned. These experiences are designed to immerse participants in the 
education policy-making process and to provide context for each of the topics listed below. Experiences will vary 
in length and location. To be considered an ELI graduate, attendance at a minimum of four sessions and 
experiences is mandatory. An optional, fifth session and experience will be available for ELI graduates interested 
in learning more about how to run for elected office. 

As a member of the ELI, you will learn about: 

• 
Local school governance issues: What is the relationship between the Jefferson Parish Public School 
System, the School Board, and the state? How can we create a culture of collaboration that creates and 
sustains a focus on student achievement? 
• 
School finance: What are our sources of local, state, and federal funding? How does money filter to 
schools? How can different sources of revenue be leveraged to achieve strategic goals, promote equity, 
and improve outcomes for all students? 
• 
Education advocacy and community engagement: What is the history of community advocacy in 
Jefferson Parish, and what does it look like today? How can the civic and private sectors support 
education? 
• 
School supports for success: What do schools need from their board members, elected officials, and 
community leaders in order to be successful? What are the milestone metrics that can and should be 
closely monitored to ensure equity and access for ALL students? 
• 
Winning political strategies: What are the mechanics of running a successful campaign for public office 
or the passage of ballot initiatives? How can groups effectively lobby elected officials for policies in the 
best interest of children? 
The tentative cohort dates are: June 16th, June 30th, July 14th, August 11th, September 8th from 9:00am-1:00pm. 
Locations will vary. 

Access the application here; completed applications are due by May 15th, 2018. If you have any questions 
throughout the application process, please contact Mallory Padgett (mpadgett@stand.org). We look forward to 
your application!