Organizational Development, Talent, and Culture (ODTC)
NYCPS’ Office of Organizational Development, Talent, and Culture (ODTC) was founded in 2015 to build effective leaders at all levels. At ODTC, our guiding principle—our why—remains steadfast:
To build and sustain a community of leaders within our central and district staff to be their best selves, working in service of our students, while also cultivating an organizational environment that celebrates and is responsive to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
ODTC works toward this goal by designing, developing, and facilitating best-in-class training initiatives for talent and teams across the NYCPS Central and district offices. ODTC collaborates with internal and external subject matter experts (SMEs) and vendors to provide learning and development solutions and resources, including instructor-led courses, self-paced online learning, webinars, and more.
During the 2024–25 school year, ODTC supported an estimated 1,250 individuals through its direct programmatic work. Here are the current programs that help ODTC achieve its mission and will continue to expand in the coming years:
Annual Conference: ODTC hosts an annual day-long conference for participants across its programming to build knowledge and fellowship. Events include keynote and guest speakers, workshops, panel discussions, student performances, and more.
Coaching: Through a partnership with the Educational Leadership Executive Coaching Team (ELECT), ODTC is able to offer coaching. ELECT provides coaches, while ODTC oversees logistics and program management.
Community Building Series: These cohort-based learning experiences amplify how teams can work together. ODTC hosted four cohorts in the 2024–25 school year.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): ODTC is responsible for managing, supporting, and training ERG leaders. Currently, six active ERGs collectively support an estimated 2,400 employees across NYCPS.
Fireside Chats: Through these standalone events, ODTC explores timely, relevant topics. During the 2024–25 school year, ODTC hosted three of these events, covering Change Management, Connecting to our Why, and Building Upon Our Collective Energy. ODTC will continue to host virtual fireside chats, enabling them to reach a larger audience across NYCPS.
Mentorship and Professional Development (PD): ODTC identifies individuals who would like to be a mentor (or serve as one), offers these groups introductory training, and then pairs mentors with mentees. Other leadership and PD programs have included Aspiring Managers, Equity in Leadership, and the Mindful Emotional Leadership Development Program.
New Programs
The Mentoring Program is redesigned to foster leadership development by pairing experienced Senior Leaders—those managing a team or department—with Emerging Leaders—those new to leadership roles or looking to serve in leadership capacities. This five-month-long program offers mentorship and guidance, supporting mentees as they develop essential leadership skills and grow professionally. Taking place between the months of February and June 2026, the ODTC Mentoring Program will include one-to-one meetings between mentors and mentees, asynchronous professional learning activities, a midpoint check-in, and a final celebration. The ODTC Mentoring Program aims to empower emerging leaders from across the agency, strengthen individual capacities, and cultivate a culture of collaboration contributing to the overall success of NYC Public Schools.
Leadership Foundations is a professional learning experience for NYCPS staff who are passionate about our mission and ready to deepen their impact. Designed for individuals who manage people, systems, or initiatives, this program supports leaders who want to grow, contribute more, and help their teams and communities thrive. Through interactive sessions, participants will explore the building blocks of leadership—from empathy and strategic communication to psychological safety, positive conflict, and adaptive change. The Leadership Foundations program offers powerful tools and frameworks to help you lead with purpose, develop others, and influence change from where you are.
Senior Leaders Masterclass is an immersive leadership development program designed for senior-level leaders – those with decision-making authority managing an office or division at the Central/District level – within NYC Public Schools (NYCPS). This executive-level program equips participants with the tools necessary to enhance leadership skills while fostering a deep sense of self-awareness, agility, and responsiveness to systemic challenges. With interactive modules focused on the research-based principles of human-centered leadership, team empowerment, strategic thinking, and change management, the Senior Leader Masterclass (SLM) Program offers you a robust opportunity to analyze real-world scenarios through a solutions-focused lens and apply learned content to enhance your productivity and system-level leadership impact.
Contact Us
ODTC@schools.nyc.gov