Maisha Rounds | Lesley University

Dr. Maisha Grant Rounds is an adjunct professor at Lesley University and has worked in public leadership as a K-12 teacher, principal, and school leader for 22 years. She was featured in The Dash Podcast and blog posts by Corwin Press. Dr. Grant Rounds has also received accolades for her contributions to scholarly publications about leadership, including Stories of Caring School Leadership and Caring in Crisis: Stories to Inspire and Guide School Leaders.

Committed to culturally responsive, data-driven transformational leadership, she has also led grassroots organizations and nonprofits while teaching aspiring leaders in higher education settings in South Carolina and Massachusetts. More recently, she has been appointed as the Director of the Center for Public Leadership Programs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is also an educational consultant and musician.

Born in Baltimore, MD and raised in Charleston, SC in a Gullah Geechee community on James Island, her family can trace their roots back to slavery and they now own the land her ancestors once worked as slaves. Dr. Grant Rounds’ most memorable leadership experience was serving as the Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year and South Carolina Teacher of the Year Nominee from 2009-2011. During this time, she had the opportunity to influence educational policies and affect systemic change through transformational leadership. In collaboration with the district leadership and local government, she catalyzed a cadre of 3,500 teachers to close achievement and opportunity gaps for 40,000 students in the state's second largest school district. She learned that building strong coalitions and empowering educators and key stakeholders was essential. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Education

Ed.D., Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Educational Leadership and Policy
University of Virginia, Partnership for Leaders in Education 2020, Charlottesville, VA, Transformational Leadership
Ed.M., Harvard University (Class Marshal), Cambridge, MA, School Leadership Program
M.Ed., Winthrop University (summa cum laude), Rock Hill, SC, Counseling & Development
BS, Winthrop University (cum laude), Rock Hill, SC, Special Education

Selected Publications

Smylie, M., Seashore-Lewis, K., Murphy, J., & Rounds, M. (2021). “Speak Life.” Stories of Caring Crisis Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Smylie, M., Seashore-Lewis, K., Murphy, J., & Rounds, M. (2020). “Caring Conversations.” Stories of Caring School Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Rounds, M. (2010). All God’s Children Can Read: A Multisensory Approach to Literacy Instruction. North Charleston, SC: On Demand Publishing.
Rounds, M. & Shea, D. (2005). Special You. Special Me. North Charleston, SC: Booksurge Publishers.
Rounds, M. (2004). And So I Live. Frederick, MD: Publish America.
Whiting, P. & Rounds, M. (2003). Helping students deal with grief. Teaching for Excellence, 22,5.

Selected Presentations

Rounds, M. (Nov. 2021). “Fletcher-Maynard Academy School Improvement Plan.” Cambridge Public Schools Administrative Council. Cambridge, MA.
Rounds, M. (October 2021). “Transformational Leadership.” Department of Leadership in Education. University of Massachusetts – Boston. Boston, MA.
Rounds, M. & Bradshaw, J. (May 2021). “Golden OpporTUNEity: The Impact of the OpporTUNEity Music Connections ® After School Music Enrichment Program on Student Outcomes.” Capstone Defense, Vanderbilt University. Nashville, TN.
Rounds, M. & Bradshaw, J. (April 2021). “Golden OpporTUNEity: The Impact of the OpporTUNEity Music Connections ® After School Music Enrichment Program on Student Outcomes.” Comparative and International Education Conference. Seattle, WA.
Martin, C., Rounds, M., (October 2020). “Hiring Advice from School Administrators.” Panel – Career Services. Lesley University. Cambridge, MA.
Cohen, C., Rounds, M., & Thompson, S. (November 2017). “Story of Self.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School R.I.S.E. Assembly. Cambridge, MA.
Cohen, C., Rounds, M., & Yung, G. (August 2017). “Rigorous, Joyful, Culturally Responsive Learning.” Cambridge Public Schools Colloquium. Cambridge, MA.
Rounds, M. (June 2017). “All God’s Children Can Write.” James Island Presbyterian Foundation. Charleston, SC.
Rounds, M. (May 2017). “All God’s Children Can Read.” James Island Presbyterian Foundation. Charleston, SC.
Burke, T., Rounds, M., & Schenkel, J. (April 2017). “Diversity Dialogues.” Porter-Gaud School. Charleston, SC.
Rounds, M. (April 2017). “Reading Rocks!” College of Charleston Lunch and Learn. North Charleston, SC.