Office of Transformation

Rhode Island Academy

for Transformative

Leadership

An Overview of

The Aspiring Turnaround Leaders Program 2013-2014

Partnering to build and support school leadership capacity

to transform schools in Rhode Island

The contents of this presentation were developed under a Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Webinar Agenda

• Vision behind RIDE’s Aspiring Turnaround Leaders Program

• Overview of program for 2013-2014

• Selection process and key dates

• Questions & answers

Turnaround Leaders Program Vision

Developing a Vision

Leading Instructional Improvement

Building Strong Teams

Building Capacity

Aligning Resources with

Vision

It’s about the work.

Turnaround Leaders ProgramVision

• What skills, knowledge, and dispositions does a Rhode Island turnaround leader need?

• What’s hard about it?

• What is the best way for you to learn these things?

It’s about you.

Turnaround Leaders Program (TLP)Overview

Modeled after NYC Leadership Academy’s Aspiring Principals Program (APP)

• APP entering its 10th year– APP grads represent 1 in 6 principals in NYC public schools– 98% placed in leadership positions (84% as principals and 14%

in other leadership positions)– Independent study results show accelerated achievement in ELA

and mathematics• APP recognized as national model by USDOE, Bush Institute, and

Rainwater Leadership Alliance• Other school systems nationally are adapting APP for their own

contexts (e.g. Delaware, Denver, Massachusetts)

TLP Approach

Problem-based and action learning

• Put people in the actual work: develop the muscle memory

• Learning driven by comprehensive problem scenarios and authentic, school-based challenges

TLP Approach

Team learning

• Build relationships among people struggling with similar

challenges− The team works together on projects− Develop collaborative, interpersonal, and meeting

management skills

• Leverage and disseminate participants’ knowledge and

best practices

TLP: How It Works

• 3 Week Summer Intensive in 2013 (July 29 – Aug 16)

• Fulltime in-school residency begins first day of school in

assigned residency district

• Monthly training sessions (2-3 days each month)

• Participation in 2-week Summer Institute in June-July 2014

to transition into principal role in August 2014

• Early career coaching support

What Participants Gain

• Content and leadership knowledge and skill development

• Lasting bonds with a community of school leaders committed to improving outcomes for children and youth across Rhode Island

• Honest and constructive feedback about your leadership strengths and weaknesses

• Coaching and support in leveraging your areas of strength and developing skills in areas of weakness

• Opportunity to “practice the principalship” in a safe environment that reflects realities of Rhode Island high-needs schools

Turnaround Leaders Program (TLP)Selection Process

Goal: Recruit, select, and prepare passionate, high-potential educators to assume leadership of Rhode Island’s identified schools.

• Nationwide recruitment effort to attract top-tier candidates

• Competitive process to select 8 participants

• Rigorous, standards-based 12-month program, including training, fulltime residency with mentor principal leading to readiness to assume leadership of a school in Fall 2014.

TLP – Sample Standards

• Personal Behavior

• Resilience

• Communication

• Focus on Student Performance

• Situational Problem-solving

• Learning

• Accountability for Professional Practice

• Supervision

• Leadership Development

• Climate and Culture

• Time, Task, and Project Management

Pre-requisites for Acceptance into the Turnaround Leaders Program

• 3 years of experience teaching in grades K-12

• Master’s Degree required: 3.0 GPA in undergraduate and graduate school

• 3-year commitment to Rhode Island public schools

What We Are Looking for during the Application and Interview Process

Evidence of and potential for significant growth in:

• Instructional knowledge/expertise

• Desire to lead a priority, focus or warning school

• Evidence that the candidate has been able to make strides inclosing the achievement gap

• Professional integrity & resilience

• Willingness to be self-reflective and a public learner

• Ability to work in groups successfully

• Commitment to continuous learning

Application Process/Key DatesApplication Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2013

Application: Download at http://www.ride.ri.gov/RIDE/transformation.aspx

Application Process:

• March 29, 2013 – Online application received with essays, educational and employment history, two written references, transcripts

• April 2, 2013 – Interview invites sent via e-mail

• April 9, 2013 – Group Interview (hold the date)

• April 22 - 26, 2013 – Individual interviews (by invitation only)

• April 30, 2013 – Notification of selection

Turnaround Leaders Program

Questions?