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 for 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.
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Learn, grow, and connect with peers when you join the Center for Innovative Leadership’s community of practice.
Meet the Fellows
Liz Garden
NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership Fellow and Principal
Scott McLeod
NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership Fellow and Professor of Educational Leadership
Resources
Leading with Heart
Read MoreOutstanding AP Ashley Farrington takes on the principalship with the goal of creating an environment that’s safe, warm, and welcoming.Moving into the principal…
How to Model Literacy Instruction Remotely
Read MoreThough the tools and classrooms might look different, educational goals remain the same.Whether or not they can be present in a physical classroom, assistant p…
NAESP Midyear Survey: Schools And COVID-19
Read MoreBack in July, NAESP surveyed its members to get a better sense of how COVID-19 has impacted their schools and what issues are most pressing for principals.As w…
Assistant Principals’ Critical Role in Literacy Instruction
Read MoreWhen principals serve as instructional leaders, assistant principals (APs) are often assigned hands-on intermediary roles in directing classroom literacy instr…
Innovative Schedules In The COVID-19 Era
Read MoreThese best practices and resources help middle-level principals overcome common challenges.
Trials Of A First-Year Principal: The Change Process
Read MoreBuilding capacity for change is necessary to foster growth in staff efficacy and student learning.
Advocacy Update: Presidential Election Analysis
Read MoreElection Results by the Numbers* Total Votes Cast for Joe Biden:79,795,023 (51.0%) Total Votes Cast for Donald Trump:73,768,906 (47.2%) Current Senate Break…
Mental Health Needs In A Pandemic: Resources For Our Students
Read MorePublic schools are facing their biggest challenge: Educating students during a worldwide health pandemic.
Trials Of A First-Year Principal: Transition Plan
Read MoreUse an entry plan as a new principal to determine a baseline and goals and set expectations.
Helping Keep Children Safe With SmileSafe
Read MoreOur partner, Lifetouch works with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to provide a current, quality image of every child photographe…
Advocacy Update: CDC Guidance on School Reopenings
Read MoreThe CDC released new guidance on safe school reopenings that includes concrete indicators for communities and schools to consider before reopening for in-perso…
We Need Better Data on COVID-19 in Schools
Read MoreNAESP is asking principals to contribute to a nationwide effort to get a better understanding of the extent and spread of coronavirus in schools.
Stalled Negotiations On School Reopening Funds
Read MoreNegotiations between Congress and the White House continue to stall despite the critical need to provide funds for schools to effectively reopen.
Seeking Leaders For the NAESP Board of Directors
Read MoreDo you have what it takes to step up your volunteer leadership game? If so, we want you to apply.
Senate Republicans Introduce School Reopening Funding Bill—With Strings Attached
Read MoreThe proposed coronavirus relief package falls far short of NAESP’s requested levels, and withholds a significant portion of funding based on a district’s reope…
Advocacy Update: Funds for Reopening Schools
Read MorePressure builds on Congress to boost funding in order to help schools safely reopen.
Advocacy Update: State Funding, CARES Act, & More
Read MoreNAESP continues to advocate for education stabilization funds, and is monitoring federal guidance related to school re-opening.
Youth Court: Giving Students Ownership Over Restorative Discipline Practices
Read MoreIn this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with Tennessee middle school principal Kevin Armstrong about gi…
Finding Success As A New Principal (Again)
Read MoreIn this NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership video podcast, Andy Jacks and Hamish Brewer talk with California principal Todd Schmidt and Texas principal Matt…
Advocacy Update: March 2020
Read MoreNAESP on the FY21 budget, plus movement on a vaping bill, school infrastructure, and info on per-pupil expenditure reporting requirements.