Three RI high schools, Cranston East, ALP, and Youthbuild, will begin to get involved in Design Studios during the next few months. It will allow principals to learn leadership through two years of experience with outstanding principals in carefully selected small schools throughout the country and the world. The Aspiring Principals program responds to research showing that the majority of principals feel their certification coursework did not prepare them adequately for school leadership. Phil Hunsberger is the consultant for Big Picture who will start up and direct the Aspiring Principals' program during the next six months. The network has 43 active member comprehensive high schools and career and technical centers, out of the 53 in the state, and five clusters.
Clusters are groups of schools working together on similar elements of school reform.
The work of the clusters is moving forward, with school teams engaged in the design and development of curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies, school personalization initiatives, and training and professional development. Teachers are serving as resources to one another, as technology trainers, new-teacher mentors, and leaders of workshops and focus groups. Administrators are developing personal leadership plans and are coordinating efforts and resources between buildings to enhance the experience of all students. And cluster sponsored work is helping schools engage their communities in more meaningful ways, bringing resources to bear on behalf of what's best for kids. Amanda Frye Leinhos, the Network Coordinator, is logging plenty of hours on the road, working with clusters and schools on their plans for reform.