National Principal Academy Fellowship
A fellowship program developing transformational school leaders to drive student success
Program Participants
The National Principal Academy Fellowship (NPAF) is an intensive, year-long leadership development experience that equips principals to become exceptional instructional leaders and drive lasting change in their schools. Participants benefit from an all-in-one model that combines professional learning, implementation support, individualized coaching, and connection to a nationwide network of peer leaders. Through hands-on learning experiences—including coaching labs, peer learning teams, and job-embedded assessments—principals develop the skills and mindsets needed to lead rigorous instruction, strengthen school culture, and improve student outcomes.
Designed for: Principals and other instructional leaders, including Assistant Principals and Instructional Coaches who seek a comprehensive, year-long training, coaching, and cohort building experience, grounded in the content of Leverage Leadership.
Key Learning Areas
In highly effective school systems, principals and their leadership teams play an essential
role in improving student outcomes. In this program, participants will learn to lead their instructional teams and teachers in the following areas:
• Centering the Student: Strengthening awareness and strategies to systematically increase opportunity and remove barriers for students.
• Instructional Rigor: Deepen 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 support and develop teacher’s instructional practice
• Data-Informed Instruction: Leading teams in effectively internalizing lessons, analyzing data, and responding to student learning needs.
• Strategic Planning: Identify priority areas and highest leverage actions to drive meaningful improvement across the community.
Program Features
• Yearlong Hybrid Fellowship: Combines in-person and virtual learning experiences
• Summer Intensive: Six-day kickoff to build foundational knowledge and relationships
• Three Two-Day Intersessions: Two in-person and one virtual session spaced throughout the year
• Cohort-Based Learning: Join a national network of peer principals for shared growth
• Expert Coaching: Ongoing feedback and development from experienced faculty
• Job-Embedded Practice: Real-world assessments aligned to daily leadership work
• Proven, Practice-Based Content: Grounded in Leverage Leadership by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, with a focus on high-impact, actionable strategies
About Partnership
Ready to get started? Complete an interest form.
Program Schedule
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 | New Orleans, LA
June 16-18, 2026
Virtual Sessions
Participants will attend two , half-day sessions in this date range
June 22-26, 2026
In-Person Sessions
Intersessions
Oct. 15-16, 2026
Intersession 1 | New OrleansCollege Park, MD
Jan. 11 and 25, 2027
Intersession 2 | Virtual
May 5-6 2027
Intersession 3 | To be Determined
Program Cost
The program fee of $16,500 per participant includes high-quality professional development led by experienced leaders, all course materials and licensing fees, and online access to electronic resources. It includes hotel accommodations for in-person session dates, along with breakfast, lunch, and snacks during those sessions. Please note that additional costs apply for optional and 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 8, 2026
June Cohort - Seat Request Deadline: May 21, 2026
July Cohort - Seat Request Deadline: June 11, 2026
“District leadership saw the gains we were having and decided to enroll all middle school principals in Relay’s National Principal Academy Fellowship program.”
- Michelle Hammonds, Principal, Weis Middle School, Galveston ISD, Galveston, TX
Michelle's Story
“One of the biggest successes has been creating meaningful exit tickets aligned to the objectives of the day and student exemplars. In the past, exit tickets might have been a simple thumbs up or thumbs down.
However, through our work with Relay, our focus on exemplars took this to the next level, which was the missing piece. District leadership saw the gains we were having and decided to enroll all middle school principals in Relay’s National Principal Academy Fellowship
program to ensure it becomes a common practice across all schools.”
- Michelle Hammonds, Principal, Weis Middle School, Galveston ISD, Galveston, TX
Read more about how Relay partnered with Galveston ISD to improve instruction
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 for NPAF
Ready to sign up your leaders? Complete an Interest Form for School Year 2026-2027 programs.