National Principal Supervisors Academy
A fellowship program that enables system-level leaders to effectively lead change across multiple schools through the coaching and development of school-based leaders.
Program Participants
The National Principal Supervisors Academy (NPSA) is for principal supervisors and other system-level instructional leaders (e.g., Instructional Superintendents, Chief Academic Officers, Heads of Leadership Development, etc.). 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
In highly effective school systems, principal supervisors play an essential role in improving instructional leadership across multiple schools. In this program, participants will dive deeply into areas such as:
- Centering the Student: Strengthening awareness and strategies to systematically increase opportunity and remove barriers for students.
- Instructional Rigor: Building deep knowledge of the rigor required by grade level standards, and supporting school leaders in aligned instructional planning that meets students’ needs.
- Coaching: Building skills to coach principals to be more effective instructional leaders.
- Data-Informed Instruction: Leading principal teams in effective lesson internalization, data analysis, and response to student learning needs.
- Strategic Planning: Supporting principals to identify priority areas and highest leverage actions to drive meaningful improvement across schools.
Program Experience
NPSA is a one-year program consisting of a 6-day hybrid (in-person and virtual) Summer Intensive followed by three Intersessions (two in person, one virtual) throughout the year. Based on a cohort model, leaders learn alongside their colleagues from across the country, including participation in virtual Practice Clinics and submission of job-embedded assessments.
Participants will benefit from:
- Expert faculty: Learn from experienced practitioners who have demonstrated effectiveness in the field.
- Feedback: Receive regular feedback on video assessments from experienced, Relay-trained coaches who have demonstrated success as effective principal supervisors.
- A network of peers: Join a national network of instructional leaders who support each other through implementation of their Relay learning and problem-solve critical challenges.
Optional:
Implementation Coaching
School districts can deepen their leaders’ learning with additional support from a Relay leadership coach. This service includes:
- 8 hours of virtual coaching
- An in-person site visit to collaboratively observe school culture and classroom instruction
- Team debrief and strategic planning session
Participants will choose to focus on a one instructional priority, such as starting the new year off strong, deepening academic rigor, ensuring student success, or planning for next year.
About Partnership
Ready to get started? Check out The Partnership Process, the FAQ page, and contact us.
Program Schedule
The National Principal Supervisors Academy (NPSA) begins alongside the National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF) with the Summer Intensive, enabling alignment within teams.
NPSA 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 | New Orleans, LA
June 17, 18 and 20, 2025
Virtual Sessions
Participants will attend two half-day sessions in this date range
June 23-27, 2025
In-Person Sessions
Option 2: July Cohort | College Park, MD
July 9-11, 2025
Virtual Sessions
Participants will attend two half-day sessions in this date range
July 14-18, 2025
In-Person Sessions
Intersessions
Oct. 15-16, 2025
Intersession 1 | College Park, MD
Jan. 12 and 24, 2026
Intersession 2 | Virtual
May 7-8, 2026
Intersession 3 | New Orleans, LA
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 implementation coaching.
Deadlines
Partner organizations should request seats for their leaders by the following deadlines. Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and may fill up quickly.
Seat Request Form Opens: January 15, 2025
June Cohort - Seat Request Deadline: May 23, 2025
July Cohort - Seat Request Deadline: June 13, 2025
New to Relay? Check out The Partnership Process page, FAQs, and contact us. We work closely with school systems to select the best program for their needs.
Ready to request seats for SY 2025-26? Fill out the Seat Request Form.
Relay has given me the structure to utilize when planning for school success. Relay is a game changer."
- Shelly Butler
Shelly Butler's Story
Shelly Butler is a leadership coach who works with principals and assistant principals in Edgewood ISD, located in San Antonio Texas. She serves as a thought partner for campus leaders, meeting with them regularly to ensure focus on instructional priorities and to problem-solve around instructional and operational challenges.
Ms. Butler learned how to conduct effective Weekly Data Meetings as a participant in NPSA. She shares that Weekly Data Meetings “have made a huge difference” for her leaders, noting that the principals that implemented them consistently saw student gains on the Texas state test, the STAAR, within their first year of use. After some practice, she says, most elementary school leaders have gotten the Weekly Data Meeting process down well. Notably, she says, “The teachers' response has blown them [the principals] away. Teachers are excited to participate and look forward to improving student performance.”
Here is how Ms. Butler described her Relay experience:
“Relay has given me the structure to utilize when planning for school success. Attending training both in person and virtually has given me the opportunity to learn from this team of leaders. I've learned many best practices that I am currently implementing to increase student achievement at our schools. I've learned structures to use when analyzing district-wide data with other leaders to create processes for improved school leader performance which in turn will promote improved student performance. Relay is a game changer.”
Shelly Butler
Senior Director of Instructional Leadership
Edgewood ISD, San Antonio, TX
Alumna, National Principal Supervisor Academy 2024
Start the Conversation
Are you new to Relay? Or have partnered with Relay in the past, but have questions? We would love to discuss your team's needs and identify which programs would be a good fit. Submit the contact form below to schedule a conversation or pose a question.
Request Seats in NPSA
Ready to sign up your leaders? Complete the Seat Request Form for School Year 2025-2026 programs. (What's next? Read about the partnership process here)