Professor Dr. Jennifer Cheatham

Biography

Jennifer Perry Cheatham is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she co-chairs the Public Education Leadership Project. She earned her Ed.D. from Harvard focusing on equity and transformational change within school districts. With a robust background in K-12 education, Cheatham has held significant roles including superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District, where she implemented strong continuous improvement routines and enhanced the district's instructional program across the K-12 spectrum. Her efforts included fostering family partnerships and local community school initiatives to promote post-secondary success. Previously, she served as chief instruction officer and area officer at Chicago Public Schools, and executive director of curriculum and instruction at San Diego City Schools. Earlier in her career, she was a professional developer with the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative. Cheatham has authored works such as 'Entry Planning for Equity-Focused Leaders' and is committed to improving student achievement outcomes through systematic organizational change.

Research Interests