Rate My Professor George Theoharis

George Theoharis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Inclusive Elementary/Early Childhood Education in the Teaching and Leadership program at Syracuse University School of Education. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With extensive experience as a principal and teacher in K-12 schools, he previously served as Department Chair, Associate Dean for Urban Education Partnerships, and Director of Field Relations. He coordinates the Inclusive Early Childhood and Special Education undergraduate program, the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership focused on Leading Equitable Schools, and the Education Studies minor. He co-runs the Baldanza Fellows program and maintains various engagements with schools across Central New York. His research centers on equity, social justice, diversity, inclusion, leadership, and school reform, bridging K-12 education and higher education.

Dr. Theoharis has authored and edited key publications including the third edition of Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools (Routledge, 2025, co-edited with Martin Scanlan), the second edition of The School Leaders Our Children Deserve: Seven Keys to Equity, Social Justice, and School Reform (Teachers College Press, 2024), and Five Practices for Equity-Focused Leadership (2021). His scholarship has earned recognition such as the “Best Book for Educators” award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education (2023) for Five Practices for Equity-Focused Leadership, Syracuse University Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Award (2018), Syracuse City School District Outstanding Service to Students Award (2014), American Educational Research Association Division A Emerging Scholar Award (2009), Emerald Literati Network Outstanding Paper Award from the Journal of Educational Administration (2007), and AERA Division A Best Doctoral Dissertation Award (2005).