The College of Education at Seattle University has received a grant to create a model program assisting graduates from the Educational Administration Program as they transition into their beginning years as principals. The Program for New Principals will be the first graduate education program in the Northwest to provide structured support for new administrators through leadership coaching, on-going professional development, and assistance with continuing professional certification requirements. Funded by the Washington Mutual Foundation, this three-year, pilot program will also offer coach training for experienced school administrators.
The Program for New Principals has three components:
1. Coaching support is provided for graduates of Seattle University’s Educational Administration Program who become assistant principals, principals, and program administrators. coaching support for other new administrators from participating school districts is also provided.
2. The Leadership Coach component provides training for Leadership Coaches for new administrators from Seattle University and participating school districts.
3. The site supervisors for administrative interns component provides training for field supervisors and principals who work with Seattle University administrative interns.
Leadership Coaches will provide three to six hours a month of one-on-one, on-site leadership coaching to new administrators. These sessions will include feedback for the new administrator on classroom observations, post-observation conferences, parent meetings, and faculty meetings. They will also provide the new administrator opportunities to problem solve in a confidential, supportive environment. Leadership Coaches are retired or experienced administrators, who are committed to developing exceptional school leaders, want to make a difference, and see themselves as change agents in pursuit of excellence for students.
The Leadership Coaches are required to participate in a 3-day workshop in August and four follow-up sessions throughout the school year. The training will help the Leadership Coach learn such strategies and skills as trust building, listening, questioning, problem solving, and distinguishing assessments from assertions, formative assessments, and goal setting. If you are an experienced administrator interested in becoming a Leadership Coach, please click here.
School districts can become involved by nominating retired or experienced administrators who have the skills to be Leadership Coaches or by providing leadership coaches for new administrators in their district. If you are interested in having Leadership Coaches for the new administrators in your district, please click here.
For more information about other components of the Program for New Principals contact Ann Marie Tripps at 206-296-2693 or trippsa@seattleu.edu .
Institute for Leadership Induction
A Professional Development Institute for Beginning Administrators, Principals, Superintendents, Leadership Coaches, Administrative Interns, and their Site Supervisors.
August 1, 2008 Seattle University 8:30 A.M. – 3:30 P. M.
