The Purpose of the Principal Institute is to invite participants to become a part of the vision of the Arkansas Leadership Academy Partners and to increase the capacity of principals to build professional learning communities in Arkansas schools.

Participants are practicing principals whose superintendents have attended the Individual Institute.

The Objectives of the Principal Institute are to increase the capacity and skills of principals to

• Build and maintain accountability systems
• Lead and manage change
• Have deep knowledge of the teaching and learning process
• Create and live the vision and mission
• Build collaborative environments

Features of the Principal Institute include nationally respected presenters, pre/post 360 degree assessments, experiential learning, correlation with state initiative, principal listserv, and walk-through observations.

Focus Areas - Knowledge, Practice, Behavior

Length - Four residential sessions over a one-year timeframe. The first session is four days in length with the three remaining sessions being three days each.

Location – Tyson Management Development Center, The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute

Number of Graduates to Date - 339

Expenses – Expenses are paid by Tyson Foods, Inc, Wal*Mart Stores, Inc., and the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Participants are asked to pay for transportation costs to and from the institute.

How to Apply – Please submit the Principal Institute application. (Space and funds are limited. Every effort will be made to provide a place for you in the institute.)

What Participants Say:

“Rarely does a situation exist in state government where the pieces of the puzzle work to enhance one another as well as they do here in Arkansas. With ACTAAP setting the standards and ALA providing the staff development tools to meet those standards, it is no wonder that other states look to us when they start evaluating their own programs.” An Arkansas high school principal

“My staff and I would like to share a success story. . .(as a result of the training we received in the ALA). Sixty-three percent of our fourth grade students scored at the proficient level or above…an increase from 37% in 1998 to 63% in 2000, approximately 21 percent higher than the state average.” An Arkansas elementary school principal

For information on the Master Principal Program, please click here.