Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2025!
(18 Quarter Unit Program, Certificate in Emerging Education Technology Leadership)
Are you a passionate educator brimming with ideas, but feel isolated in your role? Do you want to drive meaningful change, master new technologies like AI, and build your influence—without necessarily leaving the classroom for an admin position?
If you’re ready to bridge the gap between your vision and your daily practice, the MERIT Leadership Program is designed for you.
This is not a theoretical degree or a rigid, one-size-fits-all certification. This is a personalized, job-embedded coaching program that helps you find your “why,” build your expertise, and make a tangible impact on your school community.
Who Is This Program For?
This program is for the innovator, the connector, and the lifelong learner. You might be:
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A classroom teacher who wants to have a greater say in instruction and school culture.
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A tech leader, TOSA, or instructional coach looking to bridge the gap between administrators and teachers.
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An educator who wants to update your tech expertise, especially in practical, safe AI integration.
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A teacher leader who wants to build a brand, present at conferences, and share your classroom innovations.
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Any educator feeling burned out or isolated, ready to find your joy and reconnect with your purpose.
Find Your People, Find Your Path
We know that leadership in education can be isolating. Our program is built on two core principles: a supportive cohort and individualized mentorship.
This is your “team of like-minded people.” Stop feeling like you’re the only one pushing for change. The MERIT cohort is your collaborative group to tackle challenges, iterate on new ideas, and climb over those “brick walls” of bureaucracy together.
How often are you in a program where someone just listens? We base our program on relationships, not agendas. Our coaching model means we meet you where you are, listen to your goals, and provide intense, individualized support to help you move forward.
Program at a Glance
- Time Commitment: Approximately 10 hours per month of self-paced, job-embedded work.
- Live Sessions: This is a hybrid program with some in-person and mostly virtual meetings. A typical day is from 9 AM to 3 PM.
- Meeting Dates Are:
- Saturday, April 25, 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday, May 16, 2026 (virtual)
- Wednesday-Friday, June 24-26, 2026 (in-person @KCI)
- Saturday, July 25, 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday, November 14, 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday, January 23, 2027 (virtual)
- Saturday, February 27, 2027 (virtual)
- Friday-Saturday, March 19-20 (in-person @KCI (Friday 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm))
- Format: A powerful blend of personalized coaching, peer collaboration, and practical application.
- Outcome: 18 Quarter Unit Program and a Certificate in Emerging Education Technology Leadership
Learning Outcomes
- Navigate Change & Build Confidence: Learn to "iterate fast," build confidence in your expertise, and develop strategies to handle the slow cogs of change without losing momentum.
- Master Safe Innovation (with a focus on AI): AI will be woven throughout the program. You'll learn the foundations of safe technology integration, what questions to ask, how to choose tools, and how to protect student data while fostering innovation.
- Find Your Joy & Beat Burnout: We help you reframe your work to be the "designer, not the assigner." You'll get to the heart of why you're an educator, learn what to hold onto, and find your happy place again.
- Gain a Leader's Perspective: Understand the "why" behind administrative and district logic. This perspective is key to collaborating effectively and getting buy-in for your ideas.
- Create a Portfolio of Your Impact: The program culminates in a final portfolio showcasing your growth and the real-world impact you're having in your role.
- redesigned or innovative lesson plans
- case studies on implementation and change leadership
- school- or district-level initiatives
- leadership artifacts such as action plans, strategic proposals, communications, or training modules
Skills You'll Gain
Program Instructors
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Lisa Highfill
Integration Specialist for Pleasanton Virtual AcademyLisa Highfill is an experienced educator, ed tech leader, and proud geek dedicated to reimagining how students learn through curiosity, innovation, and design. She has served Pleasanton Unified School District for over 30 years, including 20 years as a fifth-grade teacher, a decade as a technology integration specialist and instructional coach, and now as the… -
Kelly Hilton
Instructional Technology CoordinatorKelly Hilton is the Director of Technology and a certified Chief Technology Officer for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD). She is the co-author of The HyperDoc Handbook and the co-founder of HyperDoc digital lesson design. With over 20 years of experience in education, Kelly holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership for Social…
More Program Details
The MERIT Leadership Difference: Practicality and Expertise
We know your time is precious. A Master’s degree is long and theoretical. An admin credential leads to one specific job. A weekend conference is inspiring but lacks follow-through.
The MERIT Leadership Program is the practical, powerful middle-ground.
Our program is job-embedded, meaning the 10 hours of work you do each month is part of the work you’re already doing—not just another thing on your plate.
You’ll be mentored by Lisa and Kelly, two leaders who have covered nearly every role in education. They aren’t just instructors; they are living examples of the program’s principles, offering direct feedback, live Q&As, and deep mentorship to the entire cohort.