McKay School of Education > CITES > Initiatives > Principals' Academy

Principals Academy

Purpose and Participants

The Principals Academy is a four-year program of study, established in 2002, to enhance mid-career development of principals in the BYU-Public School Partnerhship schools.  The focus of this work is to help administrators reculture their schools into professional learning communities in which teachers in grade-level or departmental teams work together to develop common curriculum and assessments, examine data, and collaborate on determining and implementing best practices.

Function

Year One.  During the their first year of participation the group of principals participates in discussions, expert presentations, and collaborative activity centred around elements and developmental processes involved with professional learning commnities (PLCs). Principals learn ABOUT PLCs by PATICIPATING IN A PLC; thus they experience the benefits and possible frustrations as  they are being instructed about them.   

Year Two.  During their second year, principals continue their learning/doing experience and add a third dimension:  They begin implementing PLCs into their own schools. 

Years Three and four.  After two years of learning about and participating in learning communities, principals proceed into full implementation of  learning communities throughout their schools.  Dr. Joseph Matthews (pictured above on the left), co-founder and current co-director of Principals Academy, has commented, "When they attend training after the second year, principals are able to share problems with each other and solve some of their issues with implementation."

Thus principals emerge collaboratively into in collaborative professional learning communities.  Thus far participants have been strong and enthusiastic advocates/suppoters for this important strategy for discerning and meeting student needs.