Frequently Asked Questions
How many Broad Residents will be selected for the 2010-2012 Broad Residency program?
We will place up to 40 Residents in urban school districts and charter management organizations nationwide.
What districts participate in The Broad Residency?
The following districts have participated in the Residency program:
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School districts that will participate in the 2010-2012 Broad Residency will be finalized in winter 2009/2010.
What charter management organizations (CMOs) participate in The Broad Residency?
The following CMOs have participated in The Broad Residency:
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| How does The Broad Residency select organizations for placement? School districts and charter management organizations apply to host Broad Residents. Districts must have at least 20,000 students and meet additional criteria based on their student demographics and urban environment. Each year, The Broad Residency evaluates applications from districts around the country to determine if the district will be a successful, challenging assignment for a Resident. In general, The Broad Residency partners with large urban school districts that have a strong superintendent and a clearly defined strategy for improving student achievement, a senior level administrator willing to supervise each Resident, and an appropriate role for each Resident. |
| The Broad Residency also seeks growing urban charter and education management organizations that have at least three schools, a strong academic track record serving high populations of low-income students, strong management and promising academic results. In addition, we give preference to organizations with stellar management teams, strong investor confidence, and those led by executive leaders committed to being effective Resident supervisors. |
| How does The Broad Residency match Residents with organizations for placement? Candidates selected for interviews are informed of districts participating in the program and asked to rank their preferences. At the in-person interview day, candidates have the opportunity to talk with a member of The Broad Residency staff about geographic preferences and limitations. The Broad Residency does its best to match Residents with one of their top district or charter management organization preferences. If we cannot match the Resident with one of his or her desired districts, the Resident has the opportunity to withdraw from the selection process. |
| > Learn more about placement. |
| How do I know if I’m a good candidate for the Residency? Please review the Selection Criteria and the About Residents & Alumni pages on our website for the selection criteria and to compare the backgrounds of current Residents to your own. The Broad Residency primarily seeks individuals with an advanced degree (e.g. master’s, juris doctorate, Ph.D.), at least four years of work experience and a successful track record of leadership and/or management. However, The Broad Residency prefers candidates who have an M.B.A. and those who have experience managing people because the roles filled often require the ability to lead teams. Leadership skills and experience are especially important because these teams are often composed of individuals who have very different backgrounds from the Broad Resident. |
| Do I need work experience after graduate school? I’ve noticed that many of the current Residents have several years of professional experience beyond their graduate school work. Is this a requirement? Candidates need at least four years of full-time professional work experience either before or after graduate school. Participating school districts and charter management organizations seek to hire individuals with work experience that enables them to manage or work with more senior colleagues. Broad Residents are placed in positions that take more than four years to attain through traditional routes. Current Broad Residents have an average of seven years of work experience, with a range of four to 21 years of work experience. |
| I noticed many of your current Residents are from “top ten” schools. I am not from a “top ten” school. Do I really have a chance of getting in? Yes. The Broad Residency recruiting team is small and can only visit a certain number of schools. In general, we visit the “top 20” campuses, which results in a higher awareness of the program on those campuses, as well as a higher number of applications from those campuses. The Broad Residency does not, however, turn away any candidates because of a school ranking. Strong work experience is equally important. |
| I currently work in a managerial position in a school district/charter management organization (CMO). Would I be a strong candidate? Candidates who began working in an urban school district or CMO within the past year and who meet our academic degree and work experience requirements may apply to be an Associate Resident. Associate Residents remain in their current positions, but they receive the other benefits of being a Broad Resident (e.g. access to The Broad Center staff and network, professional development sessions, 360-degree feedback, etc.). |
| I cannot relocate from my current city of residence. Is this a problem? This may not be a problem for candidates who live in a large urban area and whose local school district is participating in The Broad Residency program. However, not being able to relocate may significantly limit a candidate’s Residency options and, depending on city of origin, may prevent the candidate from being accepted into the Residency. |
| What type of position can I expect to take within a school district? Broad Residents assume managerial positions in the central operations of urban school districts and report directly to the superintendent or a cabinet-level executive. Residents do not work at individual schools. Current Residents use their prior knowledge and skills to support organizational change primarily in the following areas: operations, finance, human resources, information technology, strategy and marketing. Residents become employees of the school district or charter management organization, not of The Broad Residency or The Broad Center. |
| What type of position can I expect to take within a charter management organization (CMO)? Broad Resident positions must impact the entire organization, rather than serving an individual school. Typical Residency positions in CMOs include chief operating officer or other executive cabinet- or director-level positions in operations, finance, human resources or new business development. Residents become employees of the charter management organizations, not of The Broad Residency or The Broad Center. |
| > Learn more about typical Broad Resident positions |
| What is the time commitment required? The Broad Residency is a full-time two-year commitment. In addition to a highly demanding job that is likely to require work over many evenings and weekends, Residents agree to participate in eight professional development sessions that are sometimes held on weekends. In addition, Residents are expected to commit a significant amount of time between sessions to complete pre-reading and assignments related to their professional development. |
| What is the salary? Broad Residents receive a base salary of $85,000 to $95,000 per year, plus benefits and reimbursement for up to $3,000 in relocation expenses. The exact salary is set by the district and will vary according to district pay schedules. |
| Do participating school districts/CMOs sponsor work visas? No. |
| Do I need to be nominated to apply? No, candidates do not need to be nominated to apply. The nomination option gives people who know strong candidates the ability to nominate individuals they think would be a good fit for the role. |
| I applied last year but wasn’t accepted. Do I have to submit a new application? Yes. Candidates who have applied in the past and were not accepted must submit a new application with updated contact information and resume. These candidates may choose to submit the same responses to the essay questions, although The Broad Residency encourages candidates to focus responses on new experiences gained and new skills developed since the last application. |
| What kind of continued support will The Broad Center provide once I complete The Broad Residency? The Broad Center is committed to identifying, preparing and supporting successful education industry leaders over the course of their careers. Residency alumni have access to The Broad Center staff for job placement assistance, executive coaching, 360-degree feedback and annual reunions. In addition, alumni who continue in a high-level role in a district or CMO have access to industry experts through customized strategic support services such as study trips and strategy retreats. |
| Who do I contact for more information or to get a specific question answered? For inquiries please email residency@broadcenter.org and attach your resume. Due to the high volume of applicants, we can not reply to all inquiries and do not give individual feedback on resumes. However, attaching your resume may help us to better respond to your inquiry. If you do not intend to apply, you do not need to attach a resume to your inquiry. |
| What happens at the end of the two-year Residency? Most Residents receive an offer to stay in the school district or CMO in which they have been working. Upon completion of the Residency, 93 percent of Residents continue working in K-12 education and 89 percent within school districts and CMOs. The Broad Center provides support for Residents making position changes or transitions to other education organizations. |