National Principal Academy Fellowship

A fellowship program that cultivates school leaders to become exceptional instructional leaders and transform their schools.

Man grinning, surrounded by his students.

Program Participants

The National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF) is for principals who are looking to gain in-depth training to launch the school year strong and continue to level up their instructional, cultural, and strategic leadership practices throughout the year. Participants work in a variety of K-12 settings, including traditional school districts, independent schools, and charter management organizations across the U.S.

Program Focus

Research has shown that school leadership matters, influencing student outcomes in significant ways. NPAF develops school leaders’ skills in culture and instruction, helping leaders to align their decisions to the needs of their students, teachers, and communities. We place a particular focus on improving outcomes for Tier 1 instruction.

We delve deeply into areas such as:

  • Centering Equity: Strengthening awareness and strategies to systematically increase opportunity and remove barriers for historically underserved students.
  • Instructional Rigor: Building deep knowledge of the rigor required by grade level standards, and supporting teachers in aligned instructional planning that meets students’ needs.
  • Coaching: Building skills in observation and coaching, to better support all teachers.
  • Data-Informed Instruction: Leading teachers to analyze student work, identify gaps in their current understanding, and then plan effective instruction to close those gaps.
  • Strategic Planning: Planning for implementation, monitoring progress, and practicing strategies to close gaps. 

Program Experience

NPAF is a one-year program consisting of an 8-day hybrid (in-person and virtual) Summer Intensive, followed by three hybrid multi-day Intersessions throughout the year. Based on a cohort model, leaders learn alongside their colleagues from across the country, including participation in virtual Learning Teams and submission of job-embedded assessments.

Participants will benefit from:

  • Expert faculty: Learn from experienced practitioners who have demonstrated effectiveness in the field.
  • Feedback: Practice new skills and receive regular feedback via video assessments and learning teams.
  • A network of peers: Join a national network of instructional leaders who can help support implementation and problem-solve critical challenges.
  • Electives: Attend optional, virtual elective sessions before Intersession 1 and during Intersession 2. Electives provide additional resources to support inclusion and equity.

NEW! Optional Services: Local Intersessions 1 and 3

We know how important it is that professional development meets the specific needs of educators. In School Year 2024-25, partner schools or school systems may request that Intersessions 1 and 3 be held on site in their community, with a focus on content that supports their system’s initiatives and priorities! This service is available for an additional cost.

About Partnership

What makes a great partnership? Learn more about what kind of organizations we work with and how we support them in Conditions for Effective Partnership.

Or, look for answers to any general questions you may have on our FAQs page.

Program Schedule

Relay’s Instructional Leadership Academies have begun for School Year 2024-2025! This page will be updated with School Year 2025-2026 information by January 2025.

The National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF) begins alongside the National Principal Supervisors Academy (NPSA) with the Summer Intensive, enabling alignment within teams. 

NPAF participants will have the option of attending the Summer Intensive in either June or July. The time commitment and the content are the same for each cohort.

Summer Intensive

Option 1: June Cohort | Houston, TX

June 18-21, 2024

Virtual Orientation

Note: Participants will pick two half-day sessions within this date range

June 24-28, 2024

In-Person Summer Intensive Sessions

July 24-31, 2024

Virtual Triathlon (Live practice & feedback)

Note: Participants will pick one 3-hour session within this date range

Option 2: July Cohort | Chicago, IL

July 10-12, 2024

Virtual Orientation

Note: Participants will pick two half-day sessions within this date range

July 15-19, 2024

In-Person Summer Intensive Sessions

July 24-31, 2024

Virtual Triathlon (Live practice & feedback)

Note: Participants will pick one 3-hour session within this date range

Intersessions

Oct. 17-18, 2024

In-Person (Houston, TX) Intersession 1

Jan. 27- Feb. 7, 2025

Virtual Intersession 2

Note: Participants will pick four half-day sessions within this date range

May 8-9, 2025

In-Person (Chicago, IL) Intersession 3

Program Cost

$16,500 per participant

The program fee covers:

  • High-quality professional development from experienced leaders
  • All course materials, licensing fees, and online access to electronic versions of resources
  • Hotel room on in-person session dates
  • Breakfast, lunch, and snacks during in-person sessions

Additional costs apply for the optional local intersessions and implementation coaching.

Deadlines

Relay’s Instructional Leadership Academies have begun for School Year 2024-2025! School Year 2025-2026 deadlines will be updated by January 2025.

Eddie Rangel
Quotation mark icon

Participating in Relay's Leadership Programs turned pedagogy into meaningful outcomes for our kids, which, in my opinion, ranks it among the best professional development opportunities for educators across the globe.

- Eddie Rangel

Eddie's Story

“[When] I was accepted into Relay's NPAF Leadership Program and [I] found myself in an inspiring community of practitioners who believe in the extraordinary capabilities of every child and school. Over the course of a year, our school not only succeeded but grew into one of the top-performing schools in our county and state. Participating in Relay's Leadership Programs turned pedagogy into meaningful outcomes for our kids, which, in my opinion, ranks it among the best professional development opportunities for educators across the globe.”

- Eddie Rangel

Executive Director, Adelante Schools

National Principal Academy Fellowship, 2019

Leverage Leadership Institute, 2020

New to Relay? Or Just Have Questions?

We would love to discuss your team's needs and identify which programs would be a good fit. To get in touch, use the interest form linked below and add any questions you have in the “Optional” box.

Submit An interest Form

Ready to Request Seats?

Relay’s Instructional Leadership Academies have begun for School Year 2024-2025!

You can expect to see the Seat Request Form for our School Year 2025-2026 programs in January 2025.