(Terre Haute, Ind.) Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Educationlaunched the inaugural Indiana Principal Leadership Institute today with 57Hoosier public school principals in attendance.
The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute is a two-year experience designed to address the professional needs of Indiana public school principals with an emphasis on student success. The institute will increase a principal’s ability to address the current needs of their schools, such as teacher evaluation models, student performance, community involvement and shaping a strong school culture.
The principals also will develop and implement personal and school improvement plans, facilitate action research projects at each school,refine school improvement plans and build a network of other principals to gain support during and beyond the institute experience.
“It is an honor and a privilege for Indiana State University to lead this institute,” said Steve Gruenert, chair of educational leadership in the Bayh College of Education, “and we are committed to building the best professional development program for principals in the nation. At the same time, we are focused on helping these educators make their schools even better places for their students to learn and grow, which will have lasting impact on our children and our state.”
During the two-day session at Indiana State, the principals are connecting with their mentors, who will play a key role in guiding small group activities and discussions. Eleven Hoosier educators are serving as mentors to the members of the inaugural class and were selected through a collaborative between Indiana State University and the Indiana Association of School Principals.
The principals also are spending time with nationally recognized speakers,including Baruti Kafele, an urban public school educator and administrator who led the transformation of four different New Jersey schools and is a published author. Jeffrey Zoul, author of “Improving Your School One Week at a Time: Building the Foundation for Professional Teaching and Learning,” also will speak to the principals.
Principals interested in applying for the second class, which will launch in summer 2014, should apply online at www.indianapli.org <<a href=”http://www.indianapli.org” target=”_blank”>http://www.indianapli.org>. A one-time financial contribution of $1,000 from the school corporation is required for participation, as it cementsboth the commitment of the principal and superintendent to the program.Nominating a principal implies the superintendent and school board think theprincipal has the potential to improve their school, are supportive ofpositive change in the school and will allow data collection to occur.
The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute at Indiana State University was created by bipartisan legislation authored by Sens. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) and Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn). It was supported by Sens. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute), Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) and Reps. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute), Alan Morrison (R-Terre Haute), Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon), Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes), Sue Errington (D-Muncie), and Clyde Kersey (D-Terre Haute). Gov. Mike Pence approved the legislation in May.
To learn more about the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute, please visit www.indianapli.org <<a href=”http://www.indianapli.org/” target=”_blank”>http://www.indianapli.org/>
