Well the big day is quickly approaching... Graduation. On Tuesday, I will graduate from FAU and Phase 1 of the PROPEL Program. I have earned my degree in Ed. Leadership, my Level 1 Certification and have completed LEAD... all the requirements necessary for me to apply for an Assistant Principal position in my district. The Propel Program is a Race to the Top grant funded program that partnered FAU, the state, and my district to redesign leadership training. This program focused on the latest research, real world practical experience and provided specialized training designed to help me work in our district's neediest school... Turn Around Leaders... Change Agents... whatever they want to call the members of my cohort, we were specially selected for this rigorous, intensive program, and on Tuesday, I will walk across the stage to celebrate this milestone... my Graduation!
But my celebration will be short lived, because on August 22 I will be back in school as I begin Phase 2 of the program, and start working on my Level 2 certification (Credentials to be be a Principal). In this next phase, I will spend 30 days between September and December working with a principal in one of our district's struggling schools. I will be assigned a task to help "turn around" the school... I will be expected to develop and implement a plan for increasing student achievement, parent involvement, recruiting community partnerships, or whatever other challenge the principal wants me to tackle in the time I will be spending in the school.
This first phase of my training has been intensive, and I look forward to putting it to good use working with students and schools that need someone with the skills that this program has been providing. My fellow cohort members and I eagerly await the opportunity to be someplace where we can make a difference in the lives of the families and students we will work with. I began this blog as a chronicle of my leadership journey, and will continue it as I move into Phase 2 of the training and hopefully after that as I highlight the challenges of being a new leader.
But until then... I thought share a picture of the cap I will wear to graduation on Tuesday. My daughter "bedazzled" it for me.
