Principal Preparation:

Great Leaders for Great Schools

April 16, 2015

What are our projected needs?

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Based on trend data, LEAs could be hiring 180

building leaders from 2015-2017, with a greater

proportion needed for our highest-need schools.

79%

9%

68%

14%

% SAME SCHOOL % LEAVE DELAWARE

Retention Rate

Non-High Need School High Need School

Vision for Leader Preparation

By 2017 …

Multiple preparation programs will exist in the marketplace, partnering with districts/charters to meet their needs by providing aspiring leaders an authentic and rigorous preparation experience.

A robust data system will be in place to track outcomes of program graduates to support continuous improvement and to inform decision making at the state and local level.

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Progress in Leader Preparation

• Identified School Leadership as a majority priority for the

Department, particularly leadership preparation.

• Provided targeted RTTT funding for innovative programs.

• Revised Regulations 1591-1595 (SBOE, PSB, TLEU);

Eliminated the “six-pack” and created opportunities for

“alternative” leadership preparation programs.

• Drafted a “mock scorecard” for leadership preparation

programs in order to track outcomes over time – including

placement, retention, impact on student learning, etc.

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MASTERS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY

MONTY GERHART & NED GLADFELTER

Wilmington University Graduate

Ned Gladfelter

Principal

Claymont

Elementary School

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Program Features (Wilmington University)

• Over 50% of all DE assistant principals and principals were trained by WilmU.

• WilmU’s coursework is taught/led by practitioners, allowing for immediate “real-world” applications

• WilmU delivers course content both traditionally (face-to-face) and online

• Continued alignment with DDOE policies around certification, evaluation, data collection

WilmU: By the numbers, 2012-2014

• Average seat count by semester 200

• Average taking courses 100% online 100

• Average number of program majors 450

• Delaware graduates (2012-1014) 107

• Other states - graduates (2012-2014) 140

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• Core courses 8 courses 24 credits

• Elective requirement 1 course 3 credits

• Clinical (Practicum) 1 course 3 credits

• Clinical (Internship) 1 course 4 credits (240 clock hours)

WilmU: Ongoing Modifications

• Successful completion of Praxis CORE for admission

• Internship requirement of 240 clocks hours

• Move toward integration of clinical requirements

throughout the program rather than at the end

• Successful completion of the School Leader Licensure

Assessment (SLLA) as a graduation requirement

• Integration of DPAS-II Components into course content

DELAWARE LEADERSHIP PROJECT

MATT SWANSON, ANGELA MORTON

& RACHEL VALENTIN

Delaware Leadership Project

Rachel Valentin

Principal

Family Foundations

Academy

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State-approved alternate route

to principal certification

Delaware Leadership Project

1st 4 Cohorts

56% Out of state applicants Nationally recognized, highly competitive program

Designed to attract, develop, graduate, place, and support an elite cohort of transformational school leaders for Delaware’s highest need schools

15 Graduates 4 Phases of Training

Summer Intensive

Residency

Planning Summer

Coaching

473 Applicants

2011: 91 Applicants

2013: 111 Applicants

2012: 112 Applicants

6 School Districts

Graduates are currently serving in:

In just 4 years, graduates have been hired as:

5 7 Principals Assistant Principals

INDIAN RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT:

PARTNERSHIPS & INTERNAL PIPELINES

SUSAN BUNTING & RENEE JERNS

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Administrator Development Program

(ADP) Graduate

Renee Jerns

Principal

Millsboro Middle

School

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ADP By the Numbers

45 members of 8 cohorts have completed Indian River’s ADP requirements.

To date:

• 25 are serving as IRSD administrators

• 2 serve as administrators in other districts

• 4 serve the district’s as instructional coaches or specialists

• 2 have served as IRSD administrators but no longer do so

• 12 continue to fill either classroom teacher or guidance counselor positions

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Benefits of a District Program

District leaders getting to observe “high potentials” in action and can

subsequently ascertain their -

• Strengths & work ethic

• Speaking/presentation skills

• Quality of work & problem-solving ability

Participants develop administrative insights gained through book talks, practical

on-the-job experiences, and discussions and get to know –

- District operations & central office personnel

- District and federal budgeting

- How to create an impressive resume & how to sell yourself during an interview

- Facility maintenance

- What it takes to be a building administrator

Board Involvement: District Board members participate in the mock interviews,

which preview “administrators to come” and influence future hiring decisions.

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2015-2017

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In 2015…

• Continue to invest in school leadership

preparation (State Budget Request, FY16)

• Launch School Leader Preparation

Program Scorecards (Senate Bill 51)

• Create a network of school leadership

preparation programs to share best

practices and provide technical assistance

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QUESTIONS?

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