Principal Leadership Workshops

In 2009-10, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Electric Motor Sales & Supply, Inc. each contributed $5,000 to fund a series of half-day workshops for 15-20 assistant principals who meet monthly throughout the school year. Workshop topics include: leadership and decision making; researching and understanding best practices to improve instruction; budget development and appropriate use of funds; understanding of data and the development of programs based on data; media relations; building community partnerships; personnel management and the evaluation process; and other relevant topics. 

Corporate executives presented sessions in their areas of expertise, including leadership and management skills. PEF Directors Bill Kennedy and Clara Sale-Davis worked with HCDE Central Office staff members James Colbert, Assistant Superintendent for Campus Operations and Susan Swanson, Director of the Benwood Initiative, to develop workshop curriculum.

This series of workshops was intended to be a "bridge year." Thanks to funding from Unum, Joe Davenport of Pointer Management and an anonymous donor, a full-scale Principal Leadership Academy began in summer 2010 to provide more intensive training, mentoring and support over the course of one year to assistant principals interested in moving into a principal's role.