After 263 State Leaders and 11 Sitting Governors, Hunt Institute Brings Proven Education Model to Mayors

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Contact: Jonathan Ortiz

jortiz@hunt-institute.org | (914) 275-2509

Inaugural bipartisan fellowship selects 15 city leaders as research shows voters want education focused on workforce readiness, teacher support 

CARY, N.C. – Fifteen mayors and city leaders from across the country have been selected for the inaugural Hunt Mayors Leadership Fellows program, extending The Hunt Institute’s twelve-year track record of developing bipartisan education champions to the local level.

Since 2014, The Hunt Institute has trained 263 senior state officials from all 50 states through its Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program—including eleven sitting, and two former, governors and six members of Congress. The new mayors fellowship applies this proven model to city leaders who increasingly recognize that education shapes everything from economic development to public safety.

“For 12 years we’ve seen the impact these Fellowship models can have,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “By engaging mayors, we are meeting education policy at the point where it most directly affects families. This is a powerful opportunity to unite local leaders, and I’m eager to see them emerge as bold champions for students and as examples of excellence for the nation.” 

The expansion comes as The Hunt Institute’s latest research reveals a striking gap between what voters want from education and what dominates national headlines. The Institute’s September 2024 Across the Aisle survey found that 95% of voters—across party lines—agree preparing students for careers is essential, with 69% strongly favoring increased job skills and workforce training in high schools. Meanwhile, divisive culture war issues rank at the bottom of voter priorities. 

The bipartisan cohort includes Republican and Democratic mayors from Little Rock to Fort Worth, Durham to Tulsa— cities where mayors are looking beyond partisan talking points to focus on what works for students and educators. 

“I am grateful to be part of The Hunt Institute’s inaugural cohort as a host city mayor,” said Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, North Carolina (D-NC). “I look forward to advancing tangible, bipartisan solutions that will strengthen education and help us build a greater Durham together.”  

“I am honored that Fort Worth has been selected as one of the inaugural cohort host cities,” said Mayor Mattie Parker of Fort Worth, Texas (R-TX). “I appreciate The Hunt Institute for this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and lead on critical education issues that will build lasting change for our current and future residents.”  

From October 2025 through May 2026, fellows will participate in a rigorous curriculum including policy discussions, classroom visits, and two in-person convenings. The first convening takes place October 23-24, 2025, and will feature national experts providing insights on early learning, K-12, and higher education, with specific emphasis on mayoral influence and policy levers cities can use to improve student outcomes. 

“As a former mayor, I understood the connection between community, education, and impact,” said Senator Howard Lee (D-NC). “That’s why I am excited that The Hunt Institute is preparing future policymakers and local leaders to recognize the role education plays in helping their communities thrive.”  

The fellowship joins The Hunt Institute’s roster of fellowship programs, including Hunt State Policy Fellows, a state-specific cohort model in North Carolina (launched in 2021) and, more recently, in Virginia and South Carolina, which have trained more than 100 local leaders in education policy. 

The 2025-2026 Inaugural Cohort 

• The Honorable Frank Scott, Mayor, Little Rock, Arkansas 

• The Honorable Helen Tran, Mayor, San Bernardino, California 

• The Honorable Jan Kulmann, Mayor, Thornton, Colorado 

• The Honorable Bruce Rector, Mayor, Clearwater, Florida 

• The Honorable Scott Nishimoto, City Councilmember, Honolulu, Hawaii 

• The Honorable Rita Ali, Mayor, Peoria, Illinois 

• The Honorable Lily Wu, Mayor, Wichita, Kansas 

• The Honorable Jonathan Mitchell, Mayor, New Bedford, Massachusetts 

• The Honorable Eric Enriquez, Mayor, Las Cruces, New Mexico 

• The Honorable Rita Joseph, City Councilmember, New York, New York 

• The Honorable Leonardo Williams, Mayor, Durham, North Carolina 

• The Honorable Monroe Nichols, Mayor, Tulsa, Oklahoma 

• The Honorable Travis Stovall, Mayor, Gresham, Oregon 

• The Honorable Xay Khamsyvoravong, Councilmember, Newport, Rhode Island 

• The Honorable Mattie Parker, Mayor, Fort Worth, Texas 

“Bringing local elected leaders together to address education is powerful,” said Dr. Siddiqi. “I am eager to see how this experience equips them to become bold champions for students in their cities and models of excellence nationwide.” 

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About The Hunt Institute 

The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/