NYC Leadership Academy Awarded Contract to Provide Comprehensive Principal Development and Support Services in New York City
July 27, 2008 NY, NY: In June, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) awarded a competitively bid contract for Leadership Development Services to the NYC Leadership Academy, a not-for-profit organization established in 2003 to recruit, prepare and support aspiring and current New York City public school principals. Under the contract, the Leadership Academy will offer comprehensive, systemwide school leadership development services.
These services include coaching programs for new and experienced principals; a leadership development program for principals opening new, small schools; two pre-service programs for aspiring principals—a 14-month residency-based model and an on-the-job model in which aspiring principals will remain in their current positions; strategic consulting to various DOE departments; and workshops and training courses for principals and assistant principals systemwide.
“We are deeply gratified to have the opportunity to continue our work with the DOE on behalf of the schools and the children in New York City and to expand our programs by offering a broader range of services to current and aspiring school leaders,” said Dr. Sandra J. Stein, CEO of the Leadership Academy.
Dr. Louise Mirrer, Leadership Academy Board Chair said: “In awarding this contract, the DOE is making an important investment in our schools by strengthening the capacity of school leaders through expanded school leadership development services. It also sends the private and foundation sectors, which generously supported this work during its first five years, the critical message that the DOE is committed to building upon the Leadership Academy’s success."
Over the last five years, the Leadership Academy staff has created innovative programs that prepare talented educators to become highly effective principals and enable current principals to lead with greater success. During the 2007-2008 school year, 13% of New York City public school principals are graduates of the Leadership Academy’s Aspiring Principals Program (APP)—most of whom lead high-need schools. Leadership Academy coaches—former superintendents, principal supervisors and principals—have worked directly with more than 1,200 principals systemwide, providing coaching and leadership development programs. In addition, more than 1,000 visitors from other districts nationally and internationally have visited the Leadership Academy to learn about its programs and seek advice on how they may be adapted and applied outside of New York City.
The NYC Leadership Academy (www.nycleadershipacademy.org) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that has received generous support from the Partnership for New York City and its members, and leading foundations, including The Wallace Foundation, The Broad Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
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