Principal Coaching, Mentoring, and Support

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Active Support and Development for Your Principals

The principalship is a demanding and influential leadership role, one shaping the trajectory of an entire school community. Principals are expected to lead instructional improvement, build culture, navigate complex systems, and respond to competing demands, often with limited, job-embedded support. A thoughtfully designed mentorship, coaching, or induction program is not a luxury—it is an essential investment in leadership effectiveness, retention, and student success.

CES can bring your principals together in a focused, high-impact learning experience facilitated by experienced principals, providing a leadership framework, practical tools, real-world problem solving, and a trusted network of peers who understand the work. We will bring professional development opportunities tailored to your district’s specfiic goals and concerns. Participants leave inspired and equipped—with the clarity, confidence, and strategies needed to move from managing the role to truly leading their schools forward.

Guided by experienced facilitators, services from CES include community building, professional development, general support, and leadership-focused activities that unfold across the year. Each element is designed to reflect the real work of school leadership while providing space to reflect, problem-solve, and grow.

An African-American high school student walking with his teacher or school principal, in the hallway by a row of lockers. They are talking. The teacher has a serious expression on his face, a mature man in his 50s. The male student is an 18 year old teenage boy carrying a backpack.

The Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) at CES was extremely supportive, well-structured, and grounding for us in our work. The PLI figured prominently in my professional life this school year. It provided me with the space and support to reflect on the large challenges with which we were faced.

Our mentor was a steady and guiding figure. He routinely provided us with support, guidance, and feedback that was authentic and well-intentioned.

— Principal, Gateway Regional Middle and High School

The Mentorship for New and Aspiring Principals is a CES program worth its weight in gold.

— Superintendent, Pioneer Valley Regional School District

CES Can Bring These Elements to Your District’s Program:

Mentorship

Professional Development and Team Retreats

Strategic Plannng & Collaborative Problem Solving Support

Building-based Problem of Practice Support

Community Building and Communications Support

General Support

Description

Regular and recurring meetings with experienced mentors. These are biweekly, hour-long school-site meetings with individual mentors, to debrief the day/week, coach, troubleshoot and plan as needed, with Principal-driven agendas

Options include design and facilitation for a Community of Practice with other Principals in monthly cohort meetings, discussing effective leadership for school improvement planning and execution; seats at the CES Annual Legal Issues Seminar and the CES Annual IEP Summit, and/or the creation of a full 1-2 day retreat to kick off your school year.

Inclusive processes for SIP development and implementation, SIP models/exemplars to drive instructional improvement, Establishing SIPs as actual drivers of school improvement work

Structured facilitation to identify, refine, and address high-leverage challenges; Data-informed analysis to uncover root causes and target meaningful change; Research-based strategies and exemplars aligned to instructional improvement goals; Guided implementation planning with clear action steps, progress monitoring, and leadership support to ensure impact

Samples/exemplars of recurring communication tasks (e.g., back to school letters); Drafting/editing support for ad hoc communications (e.g., crisis response, challenging personal issues, budgetary challenges); Public speaking coaching

Research list of resources on pressing topics; Meeting support; Agenda design (e.g., faculty meetings, leadership team meetings, parent/guardian meetings, paraprofessional meetings, etc.); Facilitation coaching; Meeting feedback; Emergency procedures development

Meet the Team

Albert Johnson-Mussad Ph.D.

Dr. Johnson-Mussad serves as a staff consultant in leadership and instruction at the Collaborative for Educational Services. He travels nationally to facilitate professional development for school leaders, teachers and other licensed educators in instructional leadership; English learner education; world language and bilingual education; ...

Position: Leadership and Instruction Continuous Improvement Specialist

Email: ajohnsonmussad@collaborative.org

Phone: (413) 200-8294

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Angela Burke

Angela Burke, M.Ed, oversees CES Professional Services teams that include Professional Development, Licensure, Research and Evaluation, and Healthy Families and Communities. Burke has over 20 years of experience in managing technology across K-12, Higher Education and Fortune 100 settings. She has extensive experience in K-12 curriculum and ...

Position: Professional Services Director

Email: aburke@collaborative.org

Phone: 413-530-3930

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Contact Us Today!

If you are interested in discussing a tailored program of training, coaching and support for your new and/or seasoned principals and assistant principals, please reach out to Angela Burke, Director of Professional Services, at aburke@collaborative.org, or complete the inquiry form at the right.