National Principal Academy Fellowship

Program Participants

The National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF) is for school leaders, including principals, assistant principals, academic deans and teacher-coaches, who support the growth and development of teachers. Participants work at a variety of PK-12 settings, including traditional school districts, independent schools, and charter management organizations across the U.S.  We seek candidates who embody the mindsets and beliefs of anti-racism, collaboration, continuous improvement, equity focus, high standards in service of empowerment, intentionality, and personal responsibility.

Program Focus

Research has shown that school leadership matters, influencing student outcomes in significant ways. The National Principal Academy Fellowship program develops school leaders’ skills in culture and instruction, helping leaders to align their decisions to the needs of their students, teachers, school, and communities. 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 instructional shifts and evidence of teaching and learning required by new standards
• Coaching: Building skills in observation and coaching, to support all teachers
• Data-Informed Instruction: Leading teams in effective lesson internalization and response to student learning needs
• Strategic Planning: Planning for implementation, monitoring progress, and practicing strategies for responding to close gaps. 
  

Program Experience

The National Principal Academy Fellowship is a one-year program consisting of 60 hours of professional development during summer, followed by three multi-day intersessions throughout the year, aimed at deepening previous learning and introducing new content. In 2022-23, we will offer all-virtual cohort or hybrid options (Mostly in-person with some virtual).

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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
  

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