Mr. Jon Drescher

Jon has taught graduate classes in both the PHSLP (Philadelphia High School Leadership Project) and APLI (Allentown Principal Leadership Initiative) programs. Both programs are designed to work specifically with veteran educators who are aspiring school leaders. For the past twelve years, Jon has been the Founding Director of the Urban Principals Academy @ Lehigh (U*PAL). U*PAL develops emerging urban school leaders through an emphasis on Creativity & Imagination in Leadership, Organizational Culture and Issues of Diversity and Equity in K-12 urban education. Jon’s classes are primarily focused on developing leaders who will transform schools into outstanding institutions of student learning. In addition to teaching Organizational Structure, Data Driven Decision Making, Leadership and Management, Curriculum and Instruction and other relevant foundational courses, all of Jon’s classes focus on: Self-Reflection, Capacities for Imaginative Learning, Communication, Balance and Trust. In keeping with this focus, his classes have traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for classes on The Art of Observation. They have studied the importance of leaders knowing when to lead and when to follow by studying with a group of tango dancers and musicians. As a tangential part of Jon’s work, he has started a monthly series called, “Rounds” at Lehigh. These monthly gatherings of educators and those interested in education delve into topical issues relevant to developing creative approaches to leadership and teaching through shared perspectives and innovation. The Rounds also utilize a Collaborative Assessment Protocol at each gathering that allows each participant to look deeply into one piece of provided student work. Prior to coming to Lehigh, Jon was a Project Director for the Center for Educational Innovation in New York City and the Associate Director of the Summer Principals Academy at Columbia University. Jon also spent over 25 years as a Principal in New York City and Westchester County and four years as the Head of School (Superintendent) of K-12 Charter Schools in Cambridge, and Somerville, MA. Jon also spent a number of years as a Group Leader at Harvard’s Principal Center and many years producing and hosting shows for New York Public Radio.