Invest in Principal Learning

Next to the teacher in the classroom, the principal has the most significant impact on student growth and development. How might you amplify principal learning this summer, into next year, and beyond? Focus on these three strategies.

1. Know your principals as individual learners. Building leaders are at different levels as learners in terms of their pedagogy, leadership, and organization. Knowing their strengths and opportunities for growth positions you to plan to mind the gaps and build principals’ capacity. Where does a principal need coaching? What strategy would facilitate their growth? How does this principal receive feedback and what does that mean for my leadership as superintendent? Do my principals share a common learning need? How can we all learn together—create a community of practice?
2. Ground your leadership of principal learning in adult learning theory. Ellie Drago-Severson's work (this article is worth reading!!) on adult ways of knowing can be especially valuable in informing your work with principals and ensuring you are connecting theory with actionable practices and strategies.
3. Create space and time to learn intentionally. As superintendent, you have the responsibility to lead with curiosity and model intentional learning. Set team and individual learning goals (IAPDP), schedule time for learning and identify outcomes for each learning session (align to district goals, building goals and IAPDP goals), make time to gather articles and other resources to support the learning, take action, and debrief. 

For additional examples and considerations, read the full article.