IPLA Academy Program

IPLA VISION

The Indiana Principal Leadership Academy is a national model for the continuous improvement of principals as leaders of instructors.  Through Academy experiences and educational challenges, these leaders are empowered with effective behaviors, processes and proficiencies.  Graduates of IPLA are recognized as exemplary educational leaders in Indiana and throughout the country.

IPLA MISSION

The Indiana Principal Leadership Academy is committed to strengthening the leadership of principals.  Focusing on people, the Academy provides high quality professional development for educational leaders to improve student learning.

CORE VALUES

We believe that;

Individuals model a personal and professional code of ethics.

Learning is a life long endeavor and essential to individual and organizational success.

Professional development is most effective when it is applicable and relevant to each individual’s experiences.

Professional development is most effective when it is researched based and organized around a clearly defined curriculum.

Individuals learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning.

Individuals learn from each other.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

Participants will demonstrate the competence to apply IPLA curriculum standard skills in the areas of: Leadership; Teaching and Learning; Culture; and Communication.

STRATEGIES

DELIMITERS

All Academy sessions will offer learning experiences that will consistently feature: modeling; guided practice; networking; coaching; constructive feedback; and assessment of learner’s competencies.

CURRICULUM STANDARDS

LEADERSHIP

The executive school leader:

1. Leads the development and implementation of the school’s strategic and continuous improvement and achievement plan.
2. Forms and sustains effective leadership teams and professional learning communities within the school that focus on teaching and learning.
3. Develops, articulates, and works toward a vision for learning that is shared and supported by the school and community.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

The executive school leader:

1. Instigates and ensures best practice related to research-based instruction, curriculum alignment and assessments.
2. Initiates and sustains professional development for staff that includes effective, research-based strategies and measurement activities to ensure the transfer of new knowledge and skills to classroom instruction to improve student learning.
3. Collects and analyzes data, to make data informed decisions that improves student learning.
4. Hires, coaches, supervises, and evaluates teachers and staff that improves instruction and student learning.

CULTURE

The executive school leader:

1. Initiates research-based strategies that affect culture such as: inquiry, reflection, action research, networking, study groups, coaching and evaluation.
2. Assesses and improves the existing culture, manner of speaking and mood in order to generate an environment of constant learning and inventing.
3. Promotes a culture that honors and values diversity and supports the learning of all students.

COMMUNICATION

The executive school leader:

1. Generates conversations that effectively coordinate action and produce constructive relationships with a wide range of people, including the appropriate use of the following linguistic acts:  Requests, offers, promises, assertions, declarations and assessments.
2. Utilizes the diversity of the school community at large and its resources to meet the needs of all learners.
3. Designs, convenes, and facilitates effective meetings.

HISTORY

In 1985 the Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1236 which called for the establishment of a Principal Leadership Academy. In the initial discussions, it was agreed that a Principals' academy should be a unique, innovative approach to professional development. To develop the concept, a think tank of over 70 people met during the summer of 1986. The think tank consisted of elementary , middle school, and high school educators, university and college representatives, business leaders, superintendents and parents. The challenge was to create a vision for the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy. A vision is a statement of the very best that one can imagine, stated in such a way that it already exists (present tense).