The National Aspiring Principals Fellowship is a principal certification and master's degree program designed in partnership with two preeminent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University—in response to the research-demonstrated need for greater equity-driven, representative school leadership.
National Aspiring Principals Fellowship
Leadership Changes Everything
Discover how the Fellowship can unlock your leadership potential.
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Closing The Representation Gap In School Leadership
Research shows that a strong, equity-minded school leader accounts for about 25% of a school’s impact on student learning. Research also shows better school and student outcomes, especially for teachers and children of color, when a principal of color is at the helm.
However, while more than 54% of all U.S. public school students are students of color, only 20% of all U.S. principals are Black or Hispanic/Latinx. This does not have to be the reality.
However, while more than 54% of all U.S. public school students are students of color, only 20% of all U.S. principals are Black or Hispanic/Latinx. This does not have to be the reality.
The Fellowship integrates the 20+ year research and evidence base of New Leaders nationally renowned principal preparation program and the equity-centered conceptual frameworks of Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College into a transformative online experience that prepares diverse cohorts of aspiring principals from across the country to face the challenges of today’s schools as they lead with equity and drive towards results. The Fellowship is principal preparation at its finest.
Results You Can Count On
New Leaders has the most effective approach to principal development in the country. Principals trained by New Leaders get results where it matters most: in schools, for students.
Multiple independent evaluations have proven that in schools lead by a New Leaders principal:
Multiple independent evaluations have proven that in schools lead by a New Leaders principal:
Students perform better in reading and math
Students have better attendance rates
Students gain additional months of learning
Principals, themselves, stay in their roles longer
Over the past 20 years, we have developed a national network of diverse leaders working together to radically transform schools for the better.
28 states
have schools led by a New Leaders principal
have schools led by a New Leaders principal
60% of principals
trained by New Leaders identify as Black and/or Hispanic/Latinx
trained by New Leaders identify as Black and/or Hispanic/Latinx
1 of 5 principals
trained by New Leaders go on to lead at the district-level
trained by New Leaders go on to lead at the district-level
I feel like the Fellowship will help me be the school leader that I deserve and want to be.
Cinique Weekes-Bynoe, January 2022 Cohort Participant
A Program Design Centered In Equity
Participants in the Fellowship engage in rigorous online coursework and complete a year-long residency in their current schools. The curriculum is steeped in the deep history and long-standing scholarship of our partners:
New Leaders Transformational Leadership Framework™ to develop effective, evidence-based leadership actions that are central to sustained school improvement and student success
Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education’s CANDLE Framework to enhance content focused on racial literacy, social justice, and culturally-responsive practice
Clark Atlanta University’s distinguished history and demonstrated expertise in preparing competent, autonomous, critical-thinking candidates for P12 schools, particularly those belonging to culturally and linguistically diverse groups
Why Choose The Fellowship For Your Leadership Journey?
The Fellowship prepares you to enter the principalship ready to:
Lead with a firm moral imperative
Create a school culture that promotes equity, inclusion, and excellence
Focus on the talents and assets of the students, schools and communities you serve
Implement equitable systems and practices that enable data-driven decision-making and cycles of continuous improvement
Integrate personal leadership and instructional leadership practices to identify high-leverage priorities, build staff capacity, and meet the needs of every student
Effectively diagnose and develop plans for school-wide improvement and student achievement
Your Commitment
The Fellowship is a comprehensive blended learning experience supported by a job-embedded residency, monthly individual coaching, and community connection. Designed to be flexible for full-time education leaders, the Fellowship consists of approximately 10-12 hours per week of synchronous and asynchronous work and engages a school-site sponsor to support participants in immediately applying their learning on-site.
Tuition is $10,000 - $20,000, depending on the selected program of study.
Explore The Fellowship At Our University Partners
New Leaders is building a network of university partners to make the Fellowship available to equity-focused educators across the country.
