New Principal Institute & Induction

A Job-Alike Series for

new evaluators and those who want a tune up!

New principals often struggle with the numerous and unexpected demands of the job including instructional leadership, supervision and evaluation, running meetings, budgeting, personnel issues, decision making, crisis management, and more. They are also often navigating these demands ALONE, with few opportunities to seek guidance from others facing similar challenges and responsibilities.  This institute provides the leadership skill development and confidential support needed to be effective and strategic while creating school cultures based on core values.


What makes this program stand out from others? Only in this program will you:

  • Be Part of a Cohort - Experience the power of being part of a cohort of your peers whose ties last well beyond the institute.
  • Be Ready on Day 1 - Prepare fully during the summer institute to enter the school year completely confident that you are ready on DAY 1.
  • Be Guided All Year by Expert Mentors - Develop the kind of steady growth that can only come through regular practice and reflection with the guidance of expert mentors.

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Price

Utilize Title IIA funds to support your participation.

Choose that PACKAGE that is right for you:


PACKAGE 1. Job-Alike Institute

  • Includes Summer Intensive + 9 Roundtables
  • 28 hours
  • $3500

PACKAGE 2. Induction Institute (Recommended - Best Value)

  • Includes Summer Intensive + 9 Roundtables + 22 hours of 1:1 Mentoring
  • 50 hours
  • $9000
  • Meets DESE induction requirements

PACKAGE 3. Induction Mentoring

  • Includes 50 hours of 1:1 Mentoring
  • 50 hours
  • $13,500
  • Meets DESE induction requirements

PACKAGE 4. Alumni Roundtables (for Institute Alumni only)

  • Includes 9 Roundtables
  • 15 hours
  • $1875

PDPs

Number of PDPs correlate with the package chosen (see package descriptions above)

Claim your seat.

SHOW ME MORE

Why enroll?

Conveniently Scheduled

We schedule with the practitioner in mind. In person sessions allow for deeper training, relationship building, and group work. Remote sessions provide convenience and forums to address ongoing problems of practice.

SEE the full schedule

Thoughtfully Designed

The content comes from you and our design is based on best practices in adult learning. We build every agenda based on current research combined with the issues you bring to the table. 

PROGRAM DETAILS

Skillful Facilitators

Our facilitators are veteran educators who have walked the walk and trained for years to develop expertise in adult learning that will benefit you directly.

MEET your facilitators

Satisfied Participants

We are proud of the impact we are having. Please take a moment to read the testimonials of our satisfied participants for yourself.

HEAR from your peers

Scheduled with you in mind.

We schedule with the practitioner in mind. In person sessions allow for deeper training, relationship building, and group work. Remote sessions provide convenience and forums to address ongoing problems of practice.

Don't Delay - Claim your seat today.

Everything you need for success:

  • A Summer Intensive prepares you for entry
  • Monthly Roundtables provide ongoing support, problem solving and a peer network throughout the year
  • 1:1 Mentoring keeps you, your priorities, and your growth front and center

PACKAGE OPTIONS

Choose the package that best meets your needs.


PACKAGE 1. Job-Alike Institute (28 hours/PDPs)

  • Summer Intensive
  • Roundtables

PACKAGE 2. Induction Institute (50 hours/PDPs)

  • Summer Intensive
  • Roundtables
  • 22 hours of 1:1 Mentoring
  • Fulfills DESEs induction requirements
  • Best Value

PACKAGE 3. Induction Mentoring (50 hours/PDPs)

  • 50 hours of 1:1 Mentoring
  • Fulfills DESEs induction requirements

PACKAGE 4. ALUMNI ROUNDTABLE PACKAGE (15 PDPs)

  • Roundtables only
  • For institute alumni only

PACKAGE DETAILS


SUMMER INTENSIVE 2026 - 13 hours

Location: Westborough

  • August 5th (8am-1pm)
  • August 6th (8am-1pm)
  • August 7th (8-11am)

9 MONTHLY ROUNDTABLES & SPRING WORKSHOP - 15 hours

Location: Westborough

  • Monthly from September through May (7:30-9am)
  • March workshop (8-11am)
  • Roundtable dates will be determined with cohort during the summer intensive
  • Fall roundtables will be in person
  • Winter and Spring roundtables will be in person or remote per cohort preference

1:1 MENTORING (22-50 hours)

  • On-site and remote mentoring hours are scheduled together with the mentor
  • Mentor is chosen in consultation with Superintendent and Principal
  • Meet our mentors

*Dates/Times subject to change.

Thoughtfully Designed Programming

We focus on meaningful content and take a learner centered approach.

LEARN TO

  • Develop & implement an entry plan
  • Prepare for your opening day
  • Build a culture based on core values
  • Make effective decisions
  • Create a high functioning leadership team
  • Successfully develop the relationship between principal and superintendent ("managing up")
  • Communicate purposefully and meaningfully
  • Engage productively in difficult conversations
  • Navigate the dynamics when in a position of authority
  • Create trust and collaboration
  • Run engaging, results-oriented meetings
  • Understand what it means to be an instructional leader
  • Balance the big picture with the daily details
  • Maintain a healthy life-balance

STRENGTHEN YOUR PRACTICE

  • Enjoy a highly interactive, supportive & confidential small group setting & form long-term alliances with your peers.
  • Spend quality time on both the big picture demands of your job and just in time support for those everyday challenges that come your way. Pose questions and present issues from your current work for problem solving & strategizing with true thought partners.
  • Develop your ability to take a learning stance through direct instruction, guidance at critical junctures, and ongoing targeted coaching.
  • Benefit from time spent preparing for your following year as part of the spring sessions.

Meet Your Facilitators

Our FACILITATORS have walked the walk and have expertise in facilitating adult learning.

Meet the people who make the magic happen.

Emily Parks, MEd

Irwin Blumer, EdD

Meet Emily Parks

Meet Irwin Blumer

Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it.

Irwin and Emily are strong mentors that push us to think forward while at the same time, encourage us to keep a strong balance of well being. 

Vicky Houston, Milford

Irwin presented the entry plan in a very practical way. The exercise he led us through in writing the "story" for our first faculty meeting was very impactful for me as a person and was a major win with my staff. Similarly, his encouraging of us to determine staff agreements was completely new for me but I went for it! This led to productive faculty meetings as we determined our shared agreements and allowed me to demonstrate my value of process.

Matt Lefebvre, Hopkinton

The program increased my effectiveness in that I was able to talk through an issue with the group about a difficult conversation with a staff member, and as a result, the conversation went very well. 

Scott Mulcahy, Shrewsbury

Through these sessions I have pushed myself to look beyond a single conflict, to see the long term solution.

Stephen Greene, Harvard

Just a few more reasons to join us...

CUSTOMIZED

Enjoy an agenda personalized to the group's needs.

COLLEGIAL

Build your network in this highly interactive, supportive and confidential group setting.

PRACTICAL

Develop practical applications and solutions to questions and issues from your current work.

Don't delay - Enroll Today

Learn more about all of our Job-Alike Programs

We have cohorts for

  • Assistant Superintendents
  • Principals
  • Assistant Principals
  • School Based Curriculum Leaders
  • Instructional Coaches. 
  • Mentors
  • Special Education Team Chairs
  • Women in Leadership
  • and more!

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