Dr. Rick Mintrop

Biography

Rick Mintrop's career in education spans over a decade of direct work in schools and education systems and extended involvement with educational leadership preparation. He currently serves as a faculty co-director at the Principal Leadership Institute at UCLA and as the director of the doctoral program in Leadership for Educational Equity at UC Berkeley. His research underscores the relationship between practice and theory and integrates empirical studies with practical insights into educational problem-solving. Mintrop's recent publication, 'Design-Based School Improvement: A Practical Guide for Education Leaders,' co-authored with doctoral students Liz Zumpe and John Hall and published by Harvard Education Press, aims to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world educational practice. His extensive research focuses on comparative cross-national education, especially concerning how incentives shape instructional practices in schools across the United States and beyond. He has also explored the implications of large-scale public management reforms on educational systems. Mintrop advocates for joining theoretical insights with practical applications to improve educational leadership and teacher preparation under the current demands of the Common Core State Standards.

Research Interests