Otto Graf

I have served as a Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Administration and Policy Studies program, and as the co-director of the Principals Academy of Western Pennsylvania since 1999. In these roles, I have made significant contributions to both programs.

I teach classes in educational leadership, serve on the University's admissions committee, advised students, and participated on a number of dissertation committees. I have also contributed to the reformulation of the school leadership program and the redesign of courses in the program. In my role as co-director of the Principals Academy, I have helped to expand the Academy’s network from a single cohort of approximately thirty principals to the current network of five cohorts engaging approximately one hundred and eighty principals from the Western Pennsylvania region. I also co-direct the National Principals Initiative.

I serve as a consultant for multiple school districts both locally and nationally. In this capacity, I work with school personnel, primarily principals, in the areas of supervision and evaluation of staff; leadership; elements of effective instruction; school climate and culture; and organizational dynamics. My primary focus is helping schools increase student achievement by improve instruction and learning.

Prior to assuming my role at the University, I served as a public educator for thirty-two years. I was a teacher, counselor, Director of Staff Development, Director of Pupil Services and high school principal. I was the principal of Oliver High School, an urban Pittsburgh Public School and Mt. Lebanon High School, a suburban school. Under my leadership, Oliver received an award from the state of Pennsylvania for improving student achievement and decreasing the dropout rate. During my tenure at Mt. Lebanon, the high school received the Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Flag of Excellence in 2000 and 2008.