Leadership for Effective Academic Reform Now (LEARN) addresses the need for on-going, sustainable, professional development for school administrators and teacher leaders through the development or support of leadership academies in ten school systems in the state of Alabama. After assessing present skill levels as school leaders, school administrators and teacher leaders are working with TPI personnel to develop and implement professional development focused on leadership capacity building that addresses individual, site-specific, and network-wide leadership needs while engaging in action research teams addressing issues within their individual school systems.

Participants:

• All principals, assistant principals, and central office administrators in these districts are invited to participate.
• Superintendents, curriculum specialists, and principals identified teachers with leadership potential and instructional expertise and invited them to participate.

Activities:

• A comprehensive needs assessment was conducted in each system to determine areas of strength and needs to improve teaching and learning. Action plans will be developed and included within school improvement planning models currently being implemented.
• Monthly on-site job embedded professional development will be provided for principals and administrators focused on instructional improvement, problem solving, effective communication, and action planning.
• Monthly on-site job embedded professional development sessions will be conducted for assistant principals and teacher-leaders focused on team building, improving instructional practices, and communicating a shared vision.
• Three coalition meetings focusing on co-mentoring, action planning and research, and identified instructional needs will be held.
• A co-mentoring program will be established in each district.
• An action research network will be developed to engage participants in relevant research for instructional improvement within their own districts.

Evaluation:

• An outside evaluator well versed in research design and data analysis has been hired. 
• Pre- and post- program surveys will be developed, administered, and utilized for program evaluation and continuous improvement. 
• A needs assessment was conducted, analyzed, and utilized to develop content for monthly professional development sessions.