"BETTER TOGETHER"
“In order to be optimally effective, we must collaborate with people who challenge our thinking.”
–Peter M. Dewitt
DISTRICT and REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR NEW PRINCIPALS
Connection and collaboration opportunities create energy and space to share successes and challenges of any new leadership position, and to learn from one another as thought partners to improve leadership performance. Developing a professional learning community of leaders who are also learners, provides a cohort structure to strengthen principal leadership competencies and essential skills, promote continuous improvement to drive change, and ensure high quality professional development and support.
In 2018, the Central Carolina Regional Education Alliance ( CCRESA) based in Raleigh, North Carolina established a multi-district school leadership support initiative with the mission of providing a responsive, growth-oriented learning culture for new principals through collegial collaboration and support. It was designed from the request of regional Superintendents who were interested in starting a principal support program for newly appointed first and second year principals in their districts. Contracted by the CCRESA, I developed the LEAD and LEARN program, which included coaching new principals, leading monthly cohort leadership sessions, and facilitating leadership learning walks in schools with principal and assistant principal teams.
Still going strong, leadership support and training continues through the CCRESA LEAD & LEARN sessions. Participating school districts have included: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Roanoke Rapids, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson.
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- “My LEAD & LEARN cohort provides very intentional opportunities for me to link what I am learning to what I am doing on my campus.” - Principal Participant
