As part of the District Leadership Fellows program, Mr. Ryan Steele, Executive Director of School Leadership and Innovation at Plano ISD, focused on leadership training for assistant principals with the goal of having two internal applicants ready for each principal vacancy.
To achieve this goal, the Aspiring Principal Academy held monthly meetings focused on leadership development and preparation for the role of principal. Topics were centered around the five Texas Principal Standards:
- Executive Leadership
- Instructional Leadership
- Human Capital
- Strategic Operations
- School Culture
An important addition to the academy was the inclusion of scenarios. These gave assistant principals the opportunity to think through and practice some of the situations and challenges encountered by principals.
While implementing the project, Mr. Steele identified two key learnings:
- Strong planning with the end in mind is crucial
- Having the support from the superintendent has been such a powerful asset to the work
The Aspiring Principal Academy (APA) continues to demonstrate its impact in developing future campus leaders. While interviews for the 2025–26 school year are still underway, Mr. Steele reports a clear correlation between participation in APA and the principal readiness displayed by applicants who have completed the program. The confidence, preparation, and depth of leadership understanding these candidates exhibit reflect the strength and intentionality of the academy’s design.
Looking ahead, Mr. Steele shared great excitement as planning begins for the next cohort of aspiring principals. With a continued focus on cultivating high-quality leaders who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of campuses, the APA team is energized to refine and build upon the successes of this year. The momentum is strong, and there is a shared commitment to ensuring the next group of participants receives an outstanding experience.
To learn more about Institute for Leadership Impact programs, visit our website, email us at leadershipimpact@smu.edu, engage with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Applications are open for the 2025-2026 cohort.