The Aspiring Principals Program (APP) has three phases: a six-week summer intensive, followed by a ten-month school-based residency working side-by-side with a mentor principal and ending with a planning summer that helps participants transition successfully into their school leadership roles. To progress to graduation, participants must meet clear school leadership performance standards in each phase of the program.
- Summer intensive: Teams of APP participants work on a series of comprehensive, simulated school projects that reflect the realities of the schools they will soon lead. In addition, each team blends a diversity of experiences, perspectives, personality types, and learning styles so that the aspiring principals have opportunities to strengthen their interpersonal skills in an environment that mimics the actual rigors of the principalship.
- Residency: Each APP participant completes a ten-month, school-based residency under the mentorship of an experienced principal. Residencies expose aspiring principals to all aspects of leading a school—from organizing instructional improvement efforts, to managing school operational issues, to navigating interpersonal and organizational politics. During their residencies, participants also attend twice-weekly leadership development sessions at the Leadership Academy to reflect on and deepen what they have learned in the field.
- Planning summer: After they complete their residencies, APP participants attend the planning summer. This phase allows participants to prepare for their transition into school leadership positions by applying what they have learned from their summer and residency experiences.