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Northeast Leadership Academy


Great schools have great teachers and great school leaders. Research clearly indicates that within schools, teachers have the greatest impact on student academic achievement. In turn, principals have the greatest impact on a teacher's practice. Accountability efforts have empowered principals to play an even more critical role in the recruitment, selection, development, and remediation of teachers. As a result, the principal either fosters or inhibits real improvement in schools. The purpose of the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA) is to develop and place the type of leaders needed to dramatically improve low-performing schools in rural settings.

Unique features of NELA include:

  • Two years of intensive field-based experiences and coursework to earn a Master's in School Administration from North Carolina State University and principal licensure from North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction.
  • Context-specific customized leadership preparation.
  • Program focus on leadership of rural schools, teaching and learning in areas of poverty.
  • Cutting-edge teaching and learning strategies.
  • A pathway to bring promising new teachers into the districts by the strategic placement of student teachers.
  • A full-time paid internship in year two.
  • Funded travel to visit “Getting it Done" Schools (high performing, high poverty schools).
  • A community-based paid internship during the summer.
  • Individualized leadership coaching and early career induction and support.

Leadership Academy participants will be individuals deeply committed to improving persistently low-achieving schools and will make a three-year, post-degree commitment to work in NE high need schools. The NE districts will utilize Leadership Academy graduates as the first line of replacements for assistant principal and principal openings in districts’ high-need schools.

Click here for more information about NELA.

PROJECT TEAM