Building Leadership Capacity in Rural West Virginia 

Building Leadership Capacity in Rural West Virginia is a five-year principal leadership development program demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, (CFDA No. 84.363). The School Leadership Program (SLP) assists high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) in recruiting, training, and supporting principals (including assistant principals) by providing:

 

• Financial incentives to aspiring new principals;

• Stipends to principals who mentor new principals;

• Professional development programs that focus on instructional leadership and management; and

• Other incentives that are appropriate and effective in retaining new principals.

 

The overall goal of the SLP is to increase student achievement by investing in innovative projects that prepare aspiring principals and provide professional development to current principals to foster master of core leadership skills.

 

The Building Leadership Capacity in Rural West Virginia project was designed to address the rapidly diminishing pool of qualified school administrators in three high-need school districts in southern West Virginia (Raleigh, McDowell, and Fayette Counties). It is a coordinated and sustained school-leader training program that not only prepares candidates to be effective school leaders, but also provides on-going support and development for them as they progress through their career.