TPS Awarded $4.4 Million Grant For School Principal Development

Tulsa Public Schools has received a $4.4 million grant under the US Department of Education's School Leadership Program.

The program, according to the Department of Education, supports the development, enhancement and expansion of innovative programs to recruit, train and mentor principals and assistant principals for high-need schools and districts.

In a news release, Tulsa Public Schools says they get $990,874 for the current school year, with $861,026 for each subsequent year of the five-year grant provided the district meets annual eligibility requirements, for a total of $4,434,982.

"This is terrific news for Tulsa Public Schools, as it is significant confirmation that our Teacher and Leader Effectiveness efforts are on the right track," said Dr. Keith Ballard, Superintendent.

Dr. Ballard says the grant will help redefine the position of assistant principal as a training ground for future principals focused on instructional leadership.

"This federal grant will enable us to strengthen the instructional knowledge and leadership skills of the district's 53 assistant principals so they are equipped to become successful principals within two years. Ultimately, it will help to improve the guidance our principals provide to teachers in the classroom, which we believe will translate into improved student achievement," said Dr. Ballard.

He says with the grant, TPS will:

• Provide customized coaching to the district's 53 assistant principals so they are fully equipped to step into the role of principal as vacancies occur.
• Deliver proven induction and professional development training to first and second year assistant principals so they are prepared to become principals within two years.
• Deploy innovative supports to improve all school leaders' skills in providing accurate, actionable and effective feedback to teachers based on the teaching framework of the Tulsa Model.
• Support school leaders' ability to analyze and effectively use school and student data.
• Ease burdens placed on school leaders by expanding the capacity of school office staff to manage schools' operational and business tasks so that principals and assistant principals can focus on instructional leadership matters.
• Expand and improve the district's pool of assistant principals by offering incentives to attract and recruit highly effective leaders from schools outside of TPS with a track-record of successful school turnarounds.
• Strengthen the abilities of principal supervisors (instructional leadership directors) to support the growth and success of school principals.