DCPS’ leadership induction initiatives : building strong practices to develop and support new principals

Abstract

This Capstone paper explores the instructional and relational factors that shape success for principals amid the initial years of practice as school building leaders. The paper also defines talent and identifies investment factors, such as skill development and support systems for new principals, in a mid-sized urban school district in the United States. District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) identifies leadership development as a substantive leverage point to reform its school system and improve the level of student achievement across the district. The aim of the Capstone paper is to explore my strategic project designed to implement, improve, and strengthen induction practices for new principals. DCPS has chosen to provide professional trainings in an attempt to move school leaders from a status of novice manager to expert leader focused on a number of Leadership Framework standards designed by the organization. New Principal Supports is one of the arms of work within the strategic project that strive to build leadership capacity for new leaders. Throughout the residency experience, instruction and DCPS leadership standards are explored as vehicles to impact leadership skills, inform principal effectiveness, and promote academic success for all students. DCPS is clear on the need to develop its own commitment of funds and professional resources to all principals, regardless of the stages in their leadership careers. One consistent area explored throughout the Capstone is the impact that quality professional development opportunities and other support systems have on cultivating successful principals and sustaining a culture of exemplary leadership for the larger school community. The design, facilitation, and results of the Capstone project have been documented and analyzed to provide recommendations to DCPS on how to increase its investment in new principals, to further develop existing principal supports, and inform principal success as a key strategy to a larger education reform effort in K-12 public schools.