Pathways to Excellence » Leadership for Aspiring Principals

Leadership for Aspiring Principals

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Leadership for Aspiring Principals (LEAP) Academy
Assistant Principal → Principal Leader Pipeline
 
Purpose
 
To prepare assistant principals to step confidently into campus leadership roles by strengthening their ability to lead people, manage school systems, and communicate a clear mission and vision that drives continuous improvement. LEAP Academy represents the second phase of Granbury ISD’s leadership pipeline and builds upon the foundational competencies established in the Foundations of School Leadership Academy through applied leadership practice and performance-based readiness experiences.
 
Target Group
  • Granbury ISD assistant principals currently serving in campus leadership roles
  • High-potential assistant principals identified through principal and district leadership input
  • Selective application process with superintendent and principal recommendation required
 
Program Structure (September–May)
 
Monthly sessions focus on strengthening principal leadership capacity, with an emphasis on systems leadership, instructional leadership, communication, decision-making, and school improvement aligned to district priorities.
 
Monthly Sessions (1 hour each | 5:00–6:00 PM)
  • September: Program Orientation & Visionary Leadership Expectations
  • October: Talent Development, Hiring & Staff Leadership Systems
  • November: Campus Culture, Climate & Systems for Continuous Improvement
  • December: Instructional Leadership & Schoolwide Learning Systems
  • January: Budgeting, Resource Allocation & Financial Stewardship
  • February: Principal Selection Readiness & Interview Preparation
  • March: Leadership Readiness Defense & Panel Review
  • April: Systems Leadership, Effective Schools Framework & District Alignment
  • May: Board Meeting Celebration
 
Leadership Focus Across the Year
 
Participants will consistently develop and apply skills in:
  • Communicating campus and district mission, vision, and priorities with clarity and influence
  • Leading schoolwide systems and continuous improvement efforts aligned to student outcomes
  • Engaging staff, families, and community stakeholders in shared ownership of results
  • Making high-impact decisions aligned to campus and district strategic priorities
  • Responding effectively to complex challenges, conflict, and crisis situations
  • Articulating leadership actions and rationale in preparation for principal and district-level interviews
 
Mentor Experience
 
Participants are paired with a current principal or district leader for ongoing support, reflection, and insight into executive-level leadership decision-making and communication practices, including:
  • Ongoing mentorship with a principal or district leader
  • Structured reflection cycles throughout the year 
  • Twice per year full-day shadowing experiences with structured focus:
    • Fall: Culture and systems setup
    • Spring: Instructional leadership and data-driven decision-making cycles
 
Leadership Performance Defense (March)
 
Participants will engage in a structured leadership performance experience designed to mirror principal level selection processes prior to formal interviews.
 
Each participant will present a leadership case study demonstrating readiness for campus or district leadership roles. Presentations will be reviewed by a panel of campus and district leaders, who will provide targeted coaching, developmental feedback, and readiness-focused guidance to support participants’ growth and preparation for principal and district leadership selection processes. 
 
Presentations will include:
  • A campus or systems-level leadership initiative focused on improvement
  • Evidence of implementation and measurable impact on student or staff outcomes
  • Leadership decision-making rationale and reflection on challenges and adjustments
  • Alignment to district priorities, strategic plan, and board goals
  • A preliminary 30-60-90 day entry leadership plan 
 
Recognition
 
Participants will be recognized at a Granbury ISD School Board meeting, receive a certificate of completion, and be formally identified as emerging leadership pipeline candidates for principal leadership roles.
 
Outcome
Graduates of LEAP Academy will be prepared to successfully compete in principal selection processes and transition into campus leadership roles with clarity, confidence, and readiness. They will be able to articulate and defend a 30-60-90 day entry leadership plan, lead complex campus systems aligned to district priorities, and make high-impact decisions that strengthen instructional practice, culture, and student outcomes. Participants emerge as principal-ready leaders within Granbury ISD who demonstrate the leadership capacity, systems thinking, and professional judgment necessary to step confidently into campus leadership roles.