HOPEWELL SCHOOLS RECEIVE $500,000 TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP
BY CAITLIN DAVIS, HCPS Media Specialist
Hopewell City Public Schools is pleased to announce that, in partnership with Virginia State University and Henrico and Sussex County Public Schools, they have received a three-year grant from the New York based Wallace Foundation, which is aimed at improving the preparation program for aspiring school leaders.
Dr. Kim Evans, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, formally announced the grant at the October 13th School Board meeting. Dr. Evans stated that during the first year of the grant, Hopewell will receive a little over $500,000 to improve principal leadership.
“We have worked very closely with the partnering divisions and Virginia State University to revamp what the principal preparation track will look like for administrators to ensure that they are better prepared to lead in challenging school divisions,” Dr. Evans said.
Virginia State University was one of seven universities, and the only one in Virginia, to be chosen by the foundation to receive assistance on redesigning its programming for future leaders in area schools. The seven universities that were chosen, Albany State University, Florida Atlantic University, North Carolina State University, San Diego State University, the University of Connecticut, and Western Kentucky University, will receive funding to aide in a review of courses which relate to university-based principal training.
The initiative of the foundation desires to address a growing concern that university programs across the country have not met the increasing demands of principalship.
According to a recent Wallace commissioned study, “Improving University Principal Preparation Programs: Five Themes from the Field, 80 percent of district superintendents are dissatisfied with the quality of principal preparation program, and many universities also believe their programs have room for improvement.
Dr. Evans has experienced this need first hand, recalling her years spent preparing for her Master’s Degree. Immediately recognizing the need for a change, she expressed excitement for not only current principals but leaders who have been with the division for years.
The importance of this grant, Dr. Evans said, is to strengthen the leadership in Hopewell Schools. The leaders in each school have a valuable role not only in the support of teachers but in the success of each student, she added.
“Research shows next to a classroom teacher the most important factor in student success is the leadership in the building,” Dr. Evans said. “We know that everything rises and falls on leadership so we are excited about this opportunity to improve our student success by improving our leadership in the division.”
Independent researchers are expected to release two reports on the Wallace Foundation’s University Preparation Program Initiative; which was built upon 15 years of Wallace-supported research and experience about the makings of an effective principal. The first report is expected in 2018 or 2019 and it will analyze the early implementations of this program at the selected universities. The final report, which is not expected until 2021, will evaluate whether the universities successfully redesigned their programs.