How to Support Future Principals

The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” can also be applied to developing the next school principal. Building a diverse pipeline of well-prepared aspiring principals requires leadership (plus investment and commitment) at every level of the K12 education system, including district leaders, policy makers, philanthropic leaders, and school-based leaders. Working together, we can create the kind of community and support necessary for aspiring principals to succeed.

“Having a network of school leaders who I feel deeply connected to who are aligned in terms of our values and our mission made my transition into leadership more manageable,” explains Iris Ferrufino, an alum of our National Aspiring Principal Fellowship. “I can reach out to them at any time,” she adds. The Fellowship, an online principal certification program, develops cohorts of leaders from across the country and prepares them to be effective, equity-focused principals and change-makers for the students in their community. 

System leaders and school leaders play a vital role in ensuring fellows like Ferrufino have equitable access to national programs like the Fellowship. Here are six popular blogs that outline the ways in which our whole K12 education system can elevate and prepare the next generation of school leaders. Let’s dive in.

System and philanthropic leaders: diversify + partner

“Districts that prioritize diverse talent pipelines see the greatest return on investment,” explains Dr. Michael Hinojosa, former superintendent of two of the largest school systems in the nation: Dallas Independent School District and Cobb County School District in Atlanta, Georgia. With intentional actions, careful planning, and commitment, district leaders can build more equitable representation in school leadership. Here are five actions district leaders can take. 

New public-private partnerships are removing financial barriers for future principals, particularly educators of color who face unique challenges when moving into school leadership. “Investing in leadership pipelines is a critical retention strategy,” observes Caroline Damon, vice president of academics at Chamberlin Education Foundation. “We know that teachers stay when they have a great leader, and they leave when they don’t.” Learn more.

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School leaders: develop + motivate  

One of the best ways to develop leadership in your school is via a distributed leadership model that spreads decision-making from one person to a collective group—from the principal to the school community—and fuels a sense of collective efficacy. Instructional leadership teams, teacher teams, data or inquiry teams are all examples of distributed leadership. They increase the leadership capacity of teachers and are a great stepping stone to future leadership. 

Great school leaders can quickly see leadership in others. That moment, when someone sees your leadership and motivates you to chart a path forward, opens up a world of opportunities for future leaders. As a school principal, those conversations—or “shoulder tap”—are another way that you can provide support, resources, and inspiration to future principals. Here’s how. 

Aspiring leaders: explore + trust

Training to become a principal is a big step in your leadership journey. Researchers have identified several key aspects of principal preparation programs that work best for adult learners. Consistent advice from current school leaders is to prioritize programs that provide job-embedded opportunities to practice leadership skills via principal residencies. Learn more about what works best. 

Whether it’s making moves in our professional careers or determining steps to take in our personal lives, it’s easy to wait to make big decisions until we feel ready. But most school leaders tell us that the timing is rarely perfect. Instead, they advise aspiring leaders to trust their instincts. Talk with school leaders about their leadership journeys. Take on more leadership at your school. Explore possible programs. Here are a few leadership insights to get you started. 

Our nation’s schools need well-prepared leaders. The impact of a strong school principal cannot be underestimated. Research shows that students excel and schools thrive when they are led by diverse, committed, effective, and resilient principals. 

If you’re a district leader looking for a way to build a robust principal pipeline—or an educator who is ready to lead and amplify your impact—we invite you to explore our Fellowship. As an online program, the Fellowship offers pathways to principal certification (with or without a master’s degree) in 40+ states through a network of accredited college and university partners. Our fellows complete the program with the leadership skills and mindset they need to:

• Identify and replace inequitable practices, fueling change within schools and communities
• Design an impactful instructional program, accelerating learning for all students
• Cultivate a safe and inclusive school culture, advancing trust and collective efficacy
• Support and develop talent, coaching teachers to foster growth and opportunity 
• Build PLCs and collaborative teams, implementing systems that bring best practices to scale  
• Understand and respond to evolving needs, using data-driven insights to inform decisions
• Develop systems to equitably distribute resources, ensuring all student needs are met
• Evaluate the historical context of our education system, evolving schools for the better 
• Honor the strengths within the community, advancing a shared vision for success

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