In an elite class where trade secrets are shared and advice comes straight from the CEO, a group of 24 handpicked educators are being groomed to become executives.
They are future principal candidates screened by Gwinnett’s award winning Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks, who brought the Broad Prize for Urban Education to Georgia last year.
The candidates who apply to Gwinnett’s Quality-Plus Leader Academy as assistant principals carry impressive academic credentials and resumes with vast leadership experience. They want a shot at heading a Gwinnett County public school, but won’t be guaranteed the opportunity. Of 116 academy graduates, 85 have been promoted to principal.
The leadership academy, which has received state and national attention, taps the pool of talent among the district’s top assistant principals and trains them to be effective heads of schools. The classes use case studies, tips from insiders and job shadowing experiences to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses as leaders.
“We know, like folks in the private sector, that we have to be very proactive in growing and developing our own leaders,” said Glenn Pethel, executive director of leadership development for Gwinnett schools. “We believe it is our responsibility to prepare principals for 21st century schools. We cannot sit idly by hoping that universities are training these future leaders.”
Late last month, the year-long program received a national endorsement from the George W. Bush Institute, who added Gwinnett Schools’ leadership academy to a network of “innovators” changing the way school principals are selected, trained and empowered to boost student achievement. Former first lady Laura Bush visited Georgia recently with Bush Institute leaders who welcomed the district into the think tank’s Alliance to Reform Education Leadership.
“Gwinnett County Public Schools is an award-winning district and a leader in school principal development, and we’re excited to work together on the important issue of empowering principals to improve student performance and achievement,” said Kerri Briggs, director of education reform for the Bush Institute.
Gwinnett’s leadership academy, which began in 2007, was also lauded by the state Department of Education. The academy is being duplicated in Georgia districts such as White County and Gainesville City Schools as part of Race to the Top initiatives. The state and partnering districts are sharing in a $400 million grant to enhance school reform efforts.
Vince Botta, principal of Alton C. Crews Middle School in Lawrenceville said getting into Gwinnett’s leadership academy was very competitive. “I was not selected the first time that I applied.” But he made it in 2008, the same year he became a principal. “It is excellent exposure to the duties of being a principal. You are responsible for everything.”
Botta says when he hires new employees, evaluates them or makes his budget he remembers his academy training. “There is a lot of money that is the responsibility at the end of the day of the principal. You learn about the checks and balances that are in place to ensure that we are good stewards of our financial resources.”
Chattahoochee Elementary principal Jeff Lee, who sold insurance before becoming an educator, still remembers the advice he got from veteran principals and the superintendent.
“There are so many things that come at us in a single day,” Lee said. “We really need to make sure we are focusing our efforts, our attention and our resources on achieving the high standards we need for students.”
On a recent day, the academy’s current class was tackling a case study about test score declines in a middle school that had changing demographics and a new principal who replaced a beloved retired veteran leader. The assistant principals worked in teams to study the issue, said Pethel. “We ask, ‘ What would you do? How would you know if you are being successful?’ ”
Pethel said, “there is no short answer.”
Their training will continue long after they graduate. They are paired with mentors who check in on them. They come back for follow-up classes.
Retired principal Brenda Anderson dropped by to check in on new academy principal Tyese Scott-Oates of Patrick Elementary School recently. Anderson has been mentoring Scott-Oates since the young principal was an assistant principal.
“She is very talented,” Anderson said.
Scott-Oates said the academy has made her a confident leader.” I understand where the system is going so that the work that I’m doing in my building is aligned with the system’s goals,” she said. “In order for the organization to be able to maintain its level of quality, we all really need to be on the same page.”
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