DC Prep | Prep LEAD

Prep LEAD

www.dcprep.org preschool – 8th grade

At DC Prep, learning has no limits This is true for students and adults alike, and is one of the reasons that the most talented and dedicated urban educators are attracted to our schools. Through regular classroom observations, coaching, and frequent opportunities for collaboration with their peers, good teachers become great ones at DC Prep.

We apply the same customized, collaborative approach to develop our school leaders.

The goal: a cadre of educators with the skills and experience to successfully launch and lead DC Prep’s expanding network of schools.

Over the next five years, DC Prep will open four new schools, ultimately enrolling 3,500 students. We are committed to maintaining the highest quality educational experience as we expand into new areas of the city, and through Prep LEAD, our leadership development program, we are building a pipeline of outstanding leaders who can implement the DC Prep model with fidelity and success.

L E A D

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Leading Prep LEADers share a common mix of “will” and skill n

A fundamental belief that all children can achieve at high levels;

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Instructional expertise and strong content knowledge;

Excellence n

People development skills – the ability to motivate, reward, and hold teachers accountable for results, and handle conflict honestly and directly;

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Authenticity;

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A confident, sensitive, and inspiring communication style;

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Ability to invest students and parents in DC Prep’s vision, mission, and values; and

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Impeccable character.

At DC Prep

“The success of DC Prep’s first decade rests squarely on the shoulders of our exceptional teachers and school leaders. In the years ahead, we will continue to develop the most outstanding educators as we grow to serve more students. The Prep LEAD program supports them every step of the way.”

Emily Lawson, Founder and CEO

preparing succe Prep LEADers share a common mix of “will” and skill n

A fundamental belief that all children can achieve at high levels;

n

Instructional expertise and strong content knowledge;

n

People development skills – the ability to motivate, reward, and hold teachers accountable for results, and handle conflict honestly and directly;

n

Authenticity;

n

A confident, sensitive, and inspiring communication style;

n

Ability to invest students and parents in DC Prep’s vision, mission, and values; and

n

Impeccable character.

“The success of DC Prep’s first decade rests squarely on the shoulders of our exceptional teachers and school leaders. In the years ahead, we will continue to develop the most outstanding educators as we grow to serve more students. The Prep LEAD program supports them every step of the way.”

Emily Lawson, Founder and CEO

essful leaders Prep LEAD employs a hybrid approach

A typical year in the life of a Prep LEADer

Customized Coaching

Summer

Leaders meet regularly with their principal to work on targeted leadership growth objectives. Additionally, they participate in job-embedded professional development within leadership team meetings at each campus — typically led by Home Office Academic Team (A-Team) members.

Resident Principals — those slated to lead new DC Prep campuses in the next school year — also receive intensive, customized coaching, while having responsibility for key leadership duties.

Cohort Professional Development Leaders attend monthly, and sometimes weekly, sessions with others who are in similar roles (Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans, Coordinators, and Grade Level Leaders). This instruction, provided by the A-Team, focuses on the critical, tiered, job-specific competencies required in each leadership role (deepening content knowledge, communication, self-management, and teamwork skills; in addition to refining strategic thinking and people management for Principals, Assistant Principals, and Special Education Coordinators). Topics include Building School Culture, Coaching Adults, Developing Systems and Routines, and Running Effective Meetings. The developing leaders also participate in external school visits, retreats, and goal-setting sessions. Both their individual training plan and their cohort professional development are informed by 360-degree feedback, received from their supervisors, peers, and colleagues.

New Leader onboarding and training; leadership retreats and peer-to-peer collaborative work time

Fall Regular cohort professional development; national trainings and conferences

Winter Mid-year evaluations, with formal feedback from supervisor

Spring Reflections on current academic year; planning for upcoming school year

“The hands-on experience I got, as well as the intensive, on-site support and regular coaching sessions accelerated my growth. Prep LEAD allowed me to learn and further develop my skills, while working with others to deliver a great education to our kids.”

Shaunte Edmonds, Principal, Edgewood Elementary Campus

Prep LEAD program pathway Grade Level Leaders continue to hone their instructional skills, while gaining the foundational skills needed for successful adult leadership. This first step on the Prep LEAD pathway allows strong faculty members to guide others in their practice, lead data-driven discussions, and communicate and uphold key aspects of culture.

Deans/Coordinators/Department Chairs intensely focus on developing deep content knowledge and cultivating their team-building, communication, and organizational skillsets. They work with larger campus and cross-campus teams to advance key academic and cultural goals, while receiving ongoing cohort professional development.

Assistant Principals/Special Education Coordinators work in concert with the Principal and/or Resident Principal to provide senior-level management to the school leadership team and faculty. They directly coordinate with, and coach, teachers. APs have a proven track record of student achievement and effective adult leadership, and receive mentoring and supervision from their campus principal as well as individualized coaching.

Principals/Resident Principals benefit from individual coaching and mentoring from DC Prep’s Chief Academic Officer and/or a senior member of the A-Team in weekly meetings to review academic and culture data, and develop school-wide professional development and adult management plans to achieve campus goals. Principals and Resident Principals meet as a cohort with the A-Team, developing strategies to effectively implement cross-campus initiatives.

Exceptional teaching and instructional skills; demonstrated grasp of school culture

Grade Level Leaders

>> All previous + Deep understanding of content and curricular knowledge related to role

Deans/Coordinators/ Department Chairs

www.dcprep.org

>> All previous + Track record of results for students; people management and coaching experience

Assistant Principals/ Special Education Coordinators

>> All previous + Strong leadership and people management skills; expertise in developing PD, academic, and culture plans for school

Principals/ Resident Principals