
Advocating to Empower our most Vulnerable Students
Address Your Own Unique Problem of Practice at BLI
July 13-16, 2025
USC Hotel
Los Angeles, California
Throughout the Breakthrough Leadership Institute 2025, you will connect with a select group of peers from around the country to explore case studies from world-class experts on advancing equity and develop a plan with relevant, measurable goals guided by a USC Rossier faculty facilitator.
Why Attend?
- Dedicated uninterrupted time to work with my team
- Interactive setting – working on a plan while learning from expert speakers and expert school leaders
- Building community with my team over meals and during learning experiences
- Immediate impact on the systems and structures in my school district – implemented the work right away
- Thinking through the various communication needs of different groups within and around our school community
- Amazing hospitality – well-fed and cared for the entire time
- Focused time with Dean Pedro Noguera to think through our most challenging problems
- Meaningful examples of school/district leadership success, in practice
- Peer feedback from other district and school groups with similar needs
Disrupt
Advocate
Reimagine
Innovate

Distinguished Professor of Education
Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean
School of Education; Creator, Breakthrough Leadership Institute; Author, A Search for Common Ground: Conversations about the Toughest Questions in K-12 Education
Guest Speakers
Links
Links
Dr. Stephanie Dewing
Dr. Theodore R. Burnes
Licensed Psychologist, Expert in gender diversity & supports for non-binary youth
Our Team of Facilitators
Dr. David Cash
USC Rossier Assistant Dean of Leadership; Award-winning Retired Superintendent
Dr. Maria G. Ott
USC Rossier Irving R. and Virginia A. Melbo Chair in Education Administration; Award-winning Retired Superintendent
Dr. Rudy Crew
Nationally-acclaimed educator & author; Award-winning Retired Superintendent
Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto
Founder & CEO, Voices for Equity, Empowering Women for Policy Leadership; Award-winning Retired Superintendent
Dr. Greg Franklin
Award-winning Retired Superintendent, Professor of Clinical Education
Dr. Vivian Ekchian
Former Superintendent, Glendale Unified School District

July 13-16, 2025
USC Hotel
Los Angeles, California
Individual tuition is $3500 per attendee and includes materials, facilitation, post-institute follow-up, and all meals.
Groups of 5 or more people receive a discount of 10% off total registration.
USC Hotel accommodations are not included in the registration fee. You are welcome to make hotel reservations using the information below.
USC Hotel
3540 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 748-4141
Note. It is important that you and your guests specify that you are part of the “BREAKTHROUGH LEADERSHIP” and provide the hotel with the guest’s name(s), requested room type and bed type (i.e. King, Double/Double), credit card as guarantee (when applicable), check-in and check-out dates, and any requests for special room arrangements or special payment arrangements. The room types cannot be guaranteed. Reservations must be made on or before 06-23-2025.
Guest check in time is 3:00 PM and check out time is 11:00 AM. All guests arriving before 3:00 PM will be accommodated as rooms become available. Bags may be stored prior to check-in or after check-out.
E-MAIL RESERVATIONS REQUEST: Please email hotelreservations@usc.edu
INDIVIDUAL CALL-IN: Please call (833)-2-BOOK-USC or (213)-748-4141
ON-LINE RESERVATIONS: Make reservations through the internet by accessing the USC Hotel website at this link: 2025 BLI Hotel Reservation
Parking is included with registration for all Breakthrough Leadership attendees.
If you are driving in each day, please follow these directions. Parking for this event is at our USC Figueroa Parking Structure, located conveniently behind the USC Hotel. You will register your vehicles PRIOR to arriving at the structure, by clicking a link/passcode provided in your “Welcome Email” (you will need to enter the passcode as well). Once you have registered your vehicle’s license plate, you will be permitted to park inside the structure for the day(s) of the event. You may drive the same vehicle in and out during the duration of the event.
If you are staying at the hotel and parking overnight, please follow the USC hotel policy for parking.