RALEIGH, N.C.–The SECU Foundation is working with the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) and the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA) to help increase leadership capacity among practicing school principals through a new initiative called the Distinguished Practitioners Network (DPN).
Using a virtual platform, DPN will provide leadership development sessions to principals in high-needs schools addressing concerns highlighted by COVID-19.
An $80,000 grant from SECU Foundation will help fund costs to train and compensate program facilitators to bring the DPN platform to education leaders in approximately 180 North Carolina schools over the next two years. NCASLD and its affiliate NCPAPA provide professional development for school leaders by targeting improved student outcomes through research-based standards.
Statistics provided by NCPAPA show North Carolina public schools must replace 300-400 principals who have left the field of leadership each year, and the 180 lowest-performing schools in the state lose more than 33% of their principals annually.
DPN will enable school leaders to collaborate with peers focused on the same issues, increase leadership capacity, and apply new strategies to address three key concerns elevated by COVID-19. The three targets are: raising achievement in reading and math; seeking equity to reduce disparities in student success; and supporting social and emotional well-being to create a thriving educational environment, SECU said.
“SECU Foundation understands the importance of providing support for a community forum where principals can discuss shared school challenges and address educational concerns that have been further exacerbated by the pandemic,” stated Jo Anne Sanford, SECU Foundation Board Chair. “Both new and experienced school leaders who are facing mounting pressures will benefit from this additional support and professional development. We believe the Network will accelerate the development and dissemination of ‘leadership best practices,’ thus promoting school and student success.”