Role-Alike Group Fosters Professional Collaboration Among Principals

Role-Alike Group Fosters Professional Collaboration Among Principals

By Amanda Ritchie

Coming together with peers in similar roles can be an invaluable part of professional development, which is why the AIU hosts a variety of role-alike groups for professionals to connect and share their experiences with their counterparts in schools across the county. Jill Jacoby, Ed.D., assistant executive director for the AIU’s Teaching & Learning Division, saw an unfulfilled need for such a group for principals as a former principal and superintendent. “Principals are typically isolated and don’t get to see what others in their role do,” she said.

The AIU kicked off the principal role-alike group early in the 2022-23 school year with an in-person professional development and networking event. The group meets virtually each month with separate sessions for elementary and secondary principals to come together, discuss shared concerns and explore best practices with their colleagues across districts. The AIU leverages the meetings to keep principals informed about critical information and professional development opportunities.

Carol Sprinker, Ed.D., principal of Edgeworth Elementary in Quaker Valley School District, is an active participant in the meetings. She said the networking aspect has been especially helpful for her. “At each of the role-alike meetings, we had an opportunity to break into some smaller groups and talk about pressing issues that are important to us. Sometimes just hearing that someone else might be dealing with the same concern or issue that you are can help you navigate that problem a little bit better,” she said.

Dr. Sprinker is an advocate for principal needs at the state and federal level serving as the federal relations coordinator for Pennsylvania Principals Association with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and on the Pennsylvania Principal Association Board. “I’ve been able to take feedback from the group and share first-hand information with our legislators about what it’s like to be at the grassroots level,” she said.

Through her work with the Principals Association, Dr. Sprinker said she sees “the intense need for strong communities of practice for leaders to not only stay current with information but also to build our leadership capacity.”