Program For New Principals Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Program for New Principals?
- Seattle University’s Program for New Principals provides support for new and current administrators through leadership coaching.
- Provides ongoing professional development and training for leadership coaches/administrators
What is the purpose of leadership coaching?
- Ultimate goal is to have a positive impact upon student achievement through the exercise of effective school leadership
- Help the new administrator develop the skills to be an effective instructional leader
Who will be supported by Leadership Coaches?
- All graduates who are hired as administrators from the Educational Administration Program at Seattle University
- New and current administrators from participating school districts
What is the Leadership Coach training?
- A 3-day workshop to prepare experienced educational administrators to provide leadership coaching for new administrators
- Four follow-up sessions throughout the school year
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What will a Leadership Coach learn in this training?
- Strategies and skills such as, trust building, listening, questioning, problem solving, self-reflection and goal setting
Where and when is the Leadership Coach training?
- July at Seattle University
- Follow-up training will be every other month (Dates TBD)
What is the cost of the training?
- $650 for the three day training
- $500 for the four follow-up sessions
Will credit and clock hours be available?
- Credit and clock hours will be available. Registration and payment for credit and clock hours will be on site at the time of the training
Who pays for the training?
- Participating districts or sponsors of Leadership Coaches.
- When an applicant is selected to be a Leadership Coach and is assigned to a new administrator to coach, the cost of the training will be reimbursed
If I take the training, will I be guaranteed that I will get to coach a new administrator?
- Every effort will be made to place each Leadership Coach with a new administrator. However, in the first years of the program, we cannot guarantee that every leadership coach will be assigned to a new administrator
What do I need to do if I want to become a Leadership Coach?
- Complete an application form
- Submit a current resume and two letters of recommendations: one from a colleague familiar with your ability to be an effective leadership coach and the other from someone whom you have assisted or informally coached
- Successfully complete the leadership coach training in August.
- Successfully complete the screening and interview
Who are the leadership coaches?
Retired or experienced school or district level administrators
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What are the requirements to be a Leadership Coach?
Possession of a Washington Administrative Certificate
Minimum five years of successful administrative experience
Evidence of successful informal leadership coaching/coaching relationships
Evidence of appropriate dispositions, knowledge and skills
Evidence of ability to provide timely support to candidates consistent with program expectations
Evidence of other characteristics conducive to successful coaching such as: a span of administrative experiences; urban, suburban, and rural experiences; previous training as a Leadership Coach
Successful participation in coaching role-play in a workshop or interview
Why would I want to be a Leadership Coach?
- To provide leadership, support, and expertise to a new administrator
- To make a difference in the pursuit of excellence for students
- To give back to the educational community
- To continue to learn new skills
- To be part of a new learning community of leadership coaches
- To be part of research on the impact of leadership coaching for new administrators
What is expected of a Leadership Coach?
- Four to six hours a month of one-on-one, on-site leadership coaching including feedback on classroom observations, post-observation conference, parent meeting, faculty meeting or in-service
- Expertise and experience in the role of administrator
- Support in the way of securing information, contacts, and other resources
- Availability by phone or email to answer questions
- Ability to develop and maintain a confidential relationship
Why do new administrators need leadership coaching support?
- Transition to a new position in administration is highly complex
- Builds confidence and competence of educational leaders
- Allows learner to grow through cycles of action and reflection
- Provides trust, emotional support and advocacy in a confidential setting
- Demonstrates the districts’ support of them
What benefits could leadership coaching provide for new administrators?/j0439327.jpg "School Image 3")
- Increases effectiveness of the new administrators in their new role
- Accelerates the learning curve via real time feedback and support
- Reduces the isolation of the new administrators
- Helps retain new administrators
What can a new administrator expect from a leadership coach?
- Four to six hours a month of one-on-one, on-site leadership coaching including feedback for new administrator on classroom observations, post-observation conferences, parent meeting, site-based council, faculty meeting
- Expertise and experience in the role of administrator
- Support in the way of securing information, contacts, and other resources
- Availability by phone or email to answer questions
- Confidential relationship
What can the district expect of leadership coaches?
- Support the success and effectiveness of the new administrator
- Support doing what is best for the students
- Support the district’s goals
How much time will this leadership coaching take for the new administrator?
- Four to six hours a month for the leadership coaching sessions
How can a school district become involved in the Program for New Principals?
- Nominate administrators (retired or experienced) who have the skills to be a leadership coach
- Provide leadership coaches for new administrators in your district
- Support leadership coaching of new administrators in your district
How do I nominate administrators for leadership coach training?
Contact Project Coordinator Jo Ann Trautman with nominee’s name and contact information
Does a leadership coach get paid?
- Paid $3250 for each new administrator for the school year
What does it cost a district to provide a leadership coach for a new administrator?
- $3850 which includes $3250 to pay the leadership coach and $600 for leadership coach training and administrative costs
Can a leadership coach provide coaching for more than one new administrator?
- Yes, it is actually beneficial if a leadership coach has at least two new administrators
- Cost is $3250 for each additional new administrator
What are qualities and characteristics of effective leadership coaches?
- Ability to listen and ask questions
- Ability to build and maintain a trusting, confidential relationship
- Ability to provide honest, objective feedback that causes the new administrator to reflect, solve problems and learn
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to model and apply the skills and knowledge required of the people that they will be coaching
- Willingness and ability to reflect and self-assess
- Willingness to learn
What kind of professional development do the leadership coaches receive?
- Three days of initial training
- Four follow-up sessions throughout the school year for each year that a person coaches
The Program for New Principals is supported by a grant from Washington Mutual, J.P. Morgan Chase and the Stuart Foundation.
For more information please contact Jo Ann Trautman- Project Director: