Perceptions of a Novice District-Grown Principal Preparation Program: A Case Study

• In Event: Roundtable Session 56
  In Roundtable Session: Principal Preparation Programs: Examinations and Evolutions

Abstract

In the last decade district-managed principal preparation programs have become common as a means for school leadership; however, evaluations of these programs are relatively rare. This study evaluates one such program, the Principal Fellowship conducted by the Mid-Atlantic School District (“MASD”), now in its fourth year.
This qualitative study focuses on how the Fellowship prepares principals, and perceptions of the Principal Fellowship program components. The following research questions guided this project:
• How does the district-grown Principal Fellowship teach various leadership practices?
• What experiences within the Principal Fellowship are viewed as most essential to leadership development and why?
This study will illuminate one district’s approach to linking leadership development to leadership practice—an area in which empirical research is scant.

Author

• Allison Hansen, University of Pennsylvania