Dr. Mayme Hostetter, President of Relay Graduate School of Education (GSE), is one of 60 Scholars who will form the Presidential Leadership Scholars’ (PLS) ninth class. For nearly a decade, PLS has served as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought together to collaborate and create meaningful change in the United States and around the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations.

The class was selected after a rigorous application and review process. Scholars were chosen based on their leadership growth potential and the strength of their personal leadership projects aimed at improving civic engagement or social good by addressing a problem or need in their community, the country, or the world.

Dr. Hostetter began her career as an English teacher and has since worked in reading development research at MIT and as a Founding Director and National Director at Relay GSE, before assuming the role of president. She earned an Ed.M from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a doctorate from Teachers College at Columbia University. Relay GSE is a nonprofit institution of higher education serving thousands of teachers and education leaders across the country, whose mission is to ensure that all students are taught by excellent educators, to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

Dr. Hostetter shares, “I am grateful to learn with this cohort of scholars, leaders, and presidents, who represent the racial, professional, and political diversity of our country.”

During the six-month program, Dr. Hostetter will establish a collaborative group of education and technology leaders to design, build, and scale a best-in-class artificial intelligence (AI)-driven teaching simulator. She hopes to ensure that all teachers have access to high-quality practice and feedback at every stage of their career—just like pilots and physicians.

“Dr. Hostetter’s project will enable Relay to provide novice teachers with even more opportunities for practice and feedback, which are essential to their success and longevity in the classroom. We look forward to working with other education institutions to continuously improve teacher preparation. ”says Dr. Maya Weatherton, Provost of Teacher Preparation at Relay.

Over the course of the program, Scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from key former administration officials, business and civic leaders, and leading academics. They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership and exchange ideas to help strengthen their impact in the communities they serve.

Scholars have consistently reported remarkable growth in skills, responsibilities, and opportunities for impact since the program began in 2015. For example, 91% of Scholars said their confidence in how they lead social change has improved as a result of the PLS program.

The 2024 program kicked off on Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C.

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About Presidential Leadership Scholars

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program is a partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. To learn more, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org. For updates about the Presidential Leadership Scholars, use #PLScholars and follow @PLSprogram on X (Formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.