While similar in nature, each Center will develop its own approach to deepen and broaden learning focused on the learning interests of participants. Each Center is led by fellows who are well-respected, experienced leaders with a track record of connecting with colleagues and creating powerful professional networks. The role of the fellows is to facilitate learning and professional growth related to current and emerging issues; identify and share best practices, current research and resources; promote the essential leadership role of the principal; and create a network of colleagues with an interest in expanding their learning. Leaders who choose to participate in learning through the Centers will share experiences with colleagues while moving at their own pace. Leaders can choose to participate in more than one Center and are encouraged to explore topics that will benefit them as professionals.
Meet the Senior Fellow
Andy Jacks, Ed.D.
Senior Fellow, Centers for Advancing Leadership
ajacks@naesp.org
Andy Jacks, Principal at Ashland Elementary in Manassas Virginia, is a well-respected and experienced leader with a track record of connecting with colleagues and creating powerful professional networks. Jacks’ role is to facilitate learning and professional growth related to current and emerging issues; identify and share best practices, current research and resources; promote the essential leadership role of the principal; and create a network of colleagues with an interest in expanding their learning.
Centers
Center for Diversity Leadership
The Center for Diversity Leadership focuses on promoting best practices and sharing resources related to cultural responsiveness and inclusion leading to a deeper understanding among all leaders on how to address the needs of each student.
Center Focus
- The Center for Diversity Leadership focuses on promoting best practices and sharing resources related to cultural responsiveness and inclusion leading to a deeper understanding among all leaders on how to address the needs of each student.
- The Center works to both assist leaders of color in their pursuit of leadership positions and to amplify the voices of these leaders in order to encourage more diverse representation of leaders within schools.
- Leaders engaged in the work of the Center for Diversity Leadership are typically interested in an action-oriented approach to equity and anti-racist practices that can transform learning and teaching.
Meet the Fellows
Center for Innovative Leadership
The Center for Innovative Leadership works to highlight transformative and innovative practices and strategies that serve as a catalyst for shaping the long-term impact of school improvement efforts.
Center Focus
- The Center for Innovative Leadership works to highlight transformative and innovative practices and strategies that serve as a catalyst for shaping the long-term impact of school improvement efforts.
- The Center works to create a network of leaders who are in pursuit of the highest and most meaningful results for children, families and communities.
- Leaders engaged in the work of the Center of Innovative Leadership are typically interested in learning about and implementing non-traditional approaches to learning that have the potential to result in significantly different outcomes.
Meet the Fellows
CIL Video Podcast
The first of its kind, The Center for Innovative Leadership Video Podcast focuses on the challenges, successes, and innovations of an everyday principal. Join Hamish Brewer and Andy Jacks as they chat with school leaders from across the country about the outstanding and innovative work they are doing.
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Episode 16: Youth Court—Giving Students Ownership Over Restorative Discipline Practices
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Tennessee middle school principal Kevin Armstrong about giving students ownership over restorative practices with Youth Court.
Read more | Watch -
Episode 15: Meeting Students’ Needs During School Closures
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Virginia middle school principal Chuck Moss about meeting students’ needs during school closures and positioning the middle school as its own standout entity in the school district.
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Episode 14: Shifting from Parental Involvement to Parental Engagement
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Maryland principal Ryan Daniel about shifting from parental involvement to parental engagement.
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Episode 13: Finding Success as a New Principal (Again)
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with California principal Todd Schmidt and Texas principal Matt Arend about being veteran principals who change schools, finding themselves once again in the role of new principal, and about how that presents its own set of challenges.
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Episode 12: Finding A Support Network And Giving Students A Voice
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Kansas principal Kelley Begley McCall about finding a support network outside of her immediate community, giving students a voice, and improving unsuccessful initiatives with teacher buy-in.
Read more | Watch -
Episode 11: Getting Students Active In School And In The Community
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Kansas middle school principal Don Epps about getting the most out of the school day for students and staff and helping students find ways to become active in their community.
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Episode 10: A Focus on Character Development for All Students
In this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Texas principal Amber Teamann about combining academics with character-development to build positive experiences for all kids.
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Episode 9: Early Childhood Education: Bringing Curriculum to Life
In our first NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast of 2020, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk about engaging early childhood students and bringing curriculum to life with Massachusetts principal Kim Taylor.
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Episode 8: Tornado Alley: Keeping Students Safe—Physically and Emotionally—During Storms
In an interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Oklahoma principal Scott Hein about keeping students safe during destructive storms, helping students get the most out of their education, and making every student feel special.
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Episode 7: Health And Wellness: Bringing The Outside Inside
In an interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Pennsylvania principal Steve Smith about creating a welcoming school environment by bringing together the school and the community and bringing the outside inside to support student wellness.
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Episode 6: Improving An F Rating In A High-Trauma School
In an interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Florida principal Cindy Emerson about helping students who’ve experienced trauma and improving an F rating.
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Episode 5: Use Grant Funding to Extend Learning Beyond the School Walls
In their fifth principal interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Connecticut principal Diane MacKinnon about using grant funding to renovate an outdoor learning space that created a fantastic space and taught students new skills to help their families to transform spaces in their homes, too.
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Episode 4: Create Unique Learning Spaces and Retain Quality Teachers
In their fourth principal interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Georgia principal Bivins Miller about creating authentic and unique learning spaces and recruiting and retaining quality teachers.
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Episode 3: A Safe Place for Students to Learn and Have Fun
In this inerview series, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with South Boston principal Craig Martin about building resilience in students who face challenges in their lives.
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Episode 2: Learning Spaces Students and Teachers Can Get Excited About
In their second principal interview for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Minnesota principal Curtis Slater about innovative strategies to lead change through the messages the school sends to students and the community and to redesign learning spaces.
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Episode 1: What’s In Your Trophy Case? Students!
In their first principal interview for the Center for Innovative Leadership, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk innovative strategies to create a welcoming school climate with California principal Jessica Gomez.
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Center for Middle-Level Leadership
The Center for Middle-Level Leadership focuses on providing the exceptional skills and support that middle-level administrators need to lead outstanding schools with high levels of student achievement.
Center Focus
- The Center for Middle-Level Leadership focuses on providing the exceptional skills and support that middle-level administrators need to lead outstanding schools with high levels of student achievement.
- The Center works to connect aspiring and experienced middle-level leaders with pertinent information and resources that promote their work with young adolescents transitioning from elementary to high school.
- Leaders engaged in the work of the Center for Middle-level Leadership are typically interested in creating learning processes and environments designed to meet the unique needs of young adolescents.
Meet the Fellows
Kevin Armstrong, Ed.D.
Director At Large, DuPont Hadley Middle School
Old Hickory, TN
kevin.armstrong@mnps.org
Center for Women in Leadership
The Center for Women in Leadership is dedicated to the strategic study of women administrators and the unique challenges that they face as educational leaders because of their gender./p>
Center Focus
- The Center for Women in Leadership focuses on providing the exceptional skills and support that middle-level administrators need to lead outstanding schools with high levels of student achievement.The Center for Women in Leadership is dedicated to the strategic study of women administrators and the unique challenges that they face as educational leaders because of their gender.
- The Center works to create a strong network of women leaders, offer mentorship opportunities to and for women leaders, and identify strategies to elevate women as they pursue leadership opportunities.
- Leaders engaged in the work of the Center for Women in Leadership are typically interested in eliminating gender bias, especially in education leadership positions, and to encourage and assist women to pursue leadership roles.
Meet the Fellows
Andrea Thompson
Assistant Principal, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones Elementary School
Adelphi, MD
andrea.thompson@pgcps.org
