Regional Principal Leadership Academy

More than one million children – nearly a quarter of all students in Texas – attend public schools in the Houston metropolitan region. Nothing will impact the academic and lifelong success of these students more than the quality of their classroom teachers, the strength of their principals as instructional leaders, and the stability of their schools.

Unfortunately, an estimated 160 principal vacancies need to be filled annually across the Houston region, and more than one-fourth of all principal positions turn over each year in some districts.  Teacher turnover increases with principal turnover, and these rates are highest at secondary schools in which more than 50 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.  Turnover is expected to increase as many current school leaders approach retirement age.

To help schools and districts address these issues, Houston A+ Challenge has created a unique academy to recruit, prepare and support aspiring principals to provide strong instructional leadership for Houston and the surrounding region's most challenged public schools.

In both 2008 and 2009, approximately 250 individuals applied to join Cohorts One and Two.  From each pool of candidates, Houston A+ Challenge selected fewer than 20 highly motivated, highly qualified individuals to join the Academy. Learn more about Cohort One and Cohort Two.

The 14-month Academy experience begins with an intensive three-week summer program, followed by a yearlong internship at a public school under the tutelage of a mentor principal and an A+ coach.  Academy graduates who are placed as principals in local public schools may receive two years of continued coaching and professional development for themselves and their campus leadership teams.