Define principal excellence, expand the reach of top principals, accelerate the development of high-potential school leaders, and strengthen school leadership outcomes across Chicago Public Schools.
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Executive Principal Overview
The Executive Principal Program is designed to expand the impact of strong, experienced principals by pairing them with high-potential principals (Partner Principals) to provide structured mentorship, coaching, and leadership development focused on achieving measurable school improvement outcomes and strengthening leadership practice.
This program is part of a broader strategy to define principal excellence, expand the reach of top principals, accelerate the development of high-potential school leaders, and strengthen school leadership outcomes across Chicago Public Schools.
Executive Principals and Partner Principals are matched for the duration of the school year and engage in structured coaching and leadership development, including regular coaching meetings, school visits and observations, strategic planning and problem-solving, leadership development conversations, data review and school progress monitoring, and mid-year and end-of-year progress reviews. Each partnership co-creates a Development Plan that outlines leadership focus areas, school improvement goals, leadership development goals, and measurable outcomes for the year.
OutcomesÂ
- Executive Principals: Expanded leadership impact beyond their own school, demonstrated capacity to mentor and develop other leaders, and a role in defining and modeling strong principal leadership practices across CPS.
- Partner Principals: Accelerated leadership development through structured coaching, school visits, and strategic problem-solving, plus a co-created Development Plan with measurable school improvement and leadership goals for the year.
- CPS Systemwide: A stronger leadership pipeline, improved school and student outcomes, and greater retention of strong principals across the district.
Who Should Apply?Â
As an Executive Principal: Strong, experienced principals with a track record of school improvement who are ready to expand their impact beyond their own building, maintain strong performance at their own school, and commit to a minimum of three touchpoints per month with a Partner Principal.
As a Partner Principal: High-potential principals who want structured mentorship and coaching to accelerate their leadership development and strengthen their school’s improvement outcomes.