Paid Principal Residency, Real Leadership

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A paid principal residency sounds almost too good to be true, but North Carolina is doing it and doing it with real rigor. From the floor of the NCASA Conference in Wellington, we sit down with Lauren, director of the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, to unpack how the state is strengthening school leadership by investing in a clear pathway from educator to administrator.

Website: spotlight4success.com

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:06):
Welcome to Spotlight for Success with American Book
Company.
I'm your host, Eric and Tozi,and we're here at the N Casa
Conference in Wellington, NorthCarolina.
We're here with our specialguest, Lauren.
Lauren is the director of theNorth Carolina Principal Fellows
Program.
So we're so thankful to have youhere today with us.

SPEAKER_01 (00:24):
Thank you, sir.

SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
What brings you here to this conference?

SPEAKER_01 (00:26):
I'm excited.
I'm here to represent ourPrincipal Fellows Program, and
also we have brought somefellows with us.

SPEAKER_00 (00:33):
Ooh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 (00:33):
So that means they are current educators in their
classroom or school counselors,and they are in year one or two
of a master's degree program.
So they are seeing the real workof what it looks like to be a
school administrator, andthey're able to network really
well with currentsuperintendents and potential
get hired.

SPEAKER_00 (00:52):
Wow, that's amazing.
This is a great opportunity forthem.
And can you tell me more aboutwhat the fellows program is
about?

SPEAKER_01 (00:57):
Yes, North Carolina is one of the only states in the
country.
We are the broadest reachingprincipal preparation program.
And so essentially in year one,you remain in a classroom doing
good work, going to schoolfull-time.
In year two, you're in a fullypaid internship program where
you are in a principal residencyand you're doing the work of a
school administrator while alsogoing to school full-time.

(01:19):
Fully paid for by the state, andthe expectation is upon
graduation, it is aloan-by-service repayment.
So once you are in a qualifyingposition of an assistant
principal or a principal forfour years, your loan is
forgiven by the state.

SPEAKER_00 (01:34):
Well, every every principal in the in the United
States should do that.
That's really amazing.

SPEAKER_01 (01:39):
And we are a very rigorous program, so we only
serve eight MSA programs acrossthe state of North Carolina.
So they have to apply through anRFP process to be part of us.
And then as you can imagine,they work with local LEAs to tap
their highest performingteachers to become principals.

SPEAKER_00 (01:55):
That sounds very highly competitive.
I love it.
That's great for success.

SPEAKER_01 (02:00):
Yes.

SPEAKER_00 (02:00):
And um what how'd you get into your position?

SPEAKER_01 (02:04):
So previous to this, I was a high school and middle
school principal.
So just really value the work.
We know that the catalyst in theschool to change is a teacher.
But second to that is aprincipal.
And so, really, as a goodprincipal, your job is to
support good teachers to makesure every kid has a quality
education.
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 (02:23):
And what do you value most about education?

SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
Just the power of what is, what could be a
first-generation collegestudent.
And I think that that's reallypowerful that people are not
what they look like.
You know, you can't tell and seewhat people have been through.
And so being in a classroom toinspire the next generation to
just continue to dream.
What if, what could be.

SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
Absolutely.
Well, do you have any last wordsfor the NCASA community?

SPEAKER_01 (02:48):
No, I just appreciate everyone coming out
and sharing so transparently inthis work.
It's a labor of love.
And so I really appreciate beingin a space where people are
willing to share just theirgifts and talents with others so
that we can continue to reachthe children in the local
communities we serve.
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 (03:04):
I love I love that.
And there we have it.
Thank you for coming on with us,Lauren, and we'll catch you all
next time.

SPEAKER_01 (03:10):
Thanks, friend.