The Leadership Academy has launched a Texas-wide training program for principal supervisors in some of the largest school districts in the state. Based on the NYC Leadership Academy’s popular Foundations of Principal Supervision program, the institute will support 35 principal supervisors from 11 school districts including Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and Cypress-Fairbanks.
The NYC Leadership Academy also last week began the 6th cohort of its national Foundations of Principal Supervision, expanding the program’s reach since 2015 to 108 principal supervisors in 36 districts across 21 states who collectively reach nearly 1,900 principals and 2.2 million students. Integral to the programs will be how principal supervisors can support school leaders in the critical work of addressing inequities and systemic racism in their schools.
“Principals are facing the biggest challenges of their careers,” said NYC Leadership Academy President & CEO Dr. Nancy B. Gutiérrez. “Just as they are working to support their teams, families and students in navigating the impact of Covid-19 and the unknowns of the upcoming school year, they too need a strong support system. Principal supervisors are critical for helping principals be the leaders their communities need.”
In Foundations of Principal Supervision, participants unpack the role and impact of the principal supervisor, focusing on skills and competencies such as instructional leadership; coaching and supervision and how to balance the two to support principals; and data analysis to support planning, decision making, and feedback.
This year, to fine tune its longstanding focus on equity, the NYC Leadership Academy has woven critical actions and practices related to culturally responsive leadership throughout the program and its curriculum and standards, outlining many of the actions leaders can take to make their schools and systems more equitable. Principal supervisors will learn and practice equity-focused skills and dispositions to support school leaders in creating school communities by, with, and for students.
“Principal supervisors have a responsibility to understand the unique demands placed on campus principals,” said Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership Christina Cole. “To fully understand those needs, it’s imperative that principal supervisors visit principals on their campus, engage in dialogue, and learn about the needs and challenges facing the campus to support and align resources when necessary. The training with the NYC Leadership Academy offers a unique opportunity for supervisors to learn what culturally responsive and equitable practices look like at the campus, classroom and district levels, and how to develop strategic support plans that drive continuous learning for principals.”
Members of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s School Leadership Team will participate in the program, under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Mark Henry and Chief of School Leadership Roy Garcia.
Supported by The Wallace Foundation, the Texas program begins this week with two virtual sessions over the summer, followed by three in-person sessions throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Participating school districts include Arlington, Austin, Cypress Fairbanks, El Paso, Fort Bend, Garland, Katy, North East, Pasadena, Plano, San Antonio.
About NYC Leadership Academy
NYC Leadership Academy is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that builds the capacity of education leaders, at every level of the system, to confront inequities and create the conditions necessary for all students to thrive. Since 2003, NYCLA has worked with thousands of leaders in nearly 200 school systems across 36 states, Washington, D.C., and two countries.
Contact: Jill Grossman, jgrossman@leadershipacademy.org, 347-558-6464