Principal Initiative
Rodel Exemplary Principal Initiative
Rodel Exemplary Principal Initiative
in Partnership with Social Venture Partners Arizona
Research shows that school success is greatly dependent upon the leadership, skills and beliefs of the principal. With the shortage of potential principals looming, the Rodel Foundation of Arizona, in partnership with Social Venture Partners Arizona, created the Rodel Exemplary Principal Initiative to recognize the success of Arizona’s most exceptional principals and train the next generation of school leaders.
Identifying and Recognizing Exemplary Principals
In the search for Exemplary Principals, Rodel will look for evidence of high expectations for staff and students, as well as a focus on effective teaching and student management strategies. The principals selected will be those who inspire their staffs to contribute to school-wide success and the development of a campus that is high achieving, safe, orderly and welcoming. Additionally, individuals will be identified who have demonstrated a history of leadership that has earned them the respect of colleagues, students, staff, parents and community members.
The path to becoming a Rodel Exemplary Principal begins with a superintendent’s nomination. From these nominations, Rodel selects finalists and visits each campus to interview the principal and observe the school culture. Principals who have made measurable differences in the lives of students, staff and local communities are named Rodel Exemplary Principals. The winners will be announced in The Arizona Republic and receive an honorarium to recognize their achievement.
Preparing Future Principals
Based on the success of the Rodel Exemplary Teacher Initiative, which has produced hundreds of new, highly talented teachers, Rodel will recruit and select only the most qualified Aspiring Principals who will be mentored by Rodel Exemplary Principals. Each Exemplary Principal will mentor three high-potential Aspiring Principals. After learning from the best, Rodel Aspiring Principals will be better prepared to lead their own high-needs schools.
If a school is a vibrant, innovative, child-centered place,
if it has a reputation for excellence in teaching,
if students are performing to the best of their abilities,
one can almost always point to the principal’s leadership as the key to success.
U.S. Senate Committee Report on
Equal Educational Opportunity