Take Part in a Formal Leadership Program
A number of organizations offer leadership programs, including:- NAIS’s Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads — one-year program
- Masters Degree in Independent School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University — one or two summers
- University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education’s School Leadership Program — five-course certification or master’s degree in school leadership (including independent schools)
Sign up for a Leadership Institute
High quality leadership institutes include:- NAIS’s School Leadership Institute — summer
- Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education and Human Development’s Institute for Independent School Leadership — summer
- Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Independent Schools Institute — fall
- Institute for Engaging Leadership in Friends Schools — two-year program
Improve Your Knowledge in a Range of Professional Areas
In addition to taking part in professional development in your field of interest, be sure to take advantage of opportunities to develop greater overall knowledge of teaching and learning, and of organizational development. There are numerous offerings, national or regional, each year in areas such as the following:- diversity and multicultural education
- brain development and learning
- gender education
- global education
- 21st century skills
- progressive education
- educational technology
- experiential education
Get Involved in an Association of Educators
Every state and regional association of independent schools offers opportunities to advance one’s knowledge. Organizations like the Friends Council on Education and the National Association of Episcopal Schools also offer professional development opportunities for their members. In addition to participating in formal events, you can also volunteer to help out when possible. Networking regularly with other educators outside of your own school is often as valuable as any formal program.Volunteer for Administrative Work in Your Own School
Some schools — such as the Center for Early Education — offer formal opportunities for teachers to get involved in school leadership. In others, the administration is often happy to accept volunteer help. This might involve doing some regular administrative work, helping out with parents, leading a task force, or helping the board in some manner. Even with a busy teacher’s schedule, there’s often time to take on a little extra work for part of the year.Teach Yourself
Every year brings a new clutch of interesting books on organizational leadership. Find time to read a few of the best books on the topic each year. Each school should be able to develop a reading library for teachers and administrators to share. If your school doesn’t have such a collection, see if you can work with the librarians to start one. There are also a number of magazines and journals dedicated to education. Reading some of these regularly keeps you connected with current issues.In addition to learning from the experts, educators can learn from each other. Join a listserve, subscribe to a few good educational blogs, or make an effort to do some writing on your own.