Minnesota Principals Academy
Providing Minnesota principals with action-based professional development since 2006
Despite the importance of the principalship and the demands that are placed on principals today, relatively few principals receive ongoing professional development that enhances their ability to lead schools to high performance. The Minnesota Principals Academy fills that gap by bringing to Minnesota the research-based program of the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL), an initiative of the Washington, D.C.-based National Center on Education and the Economy. The NISL executive development program was developed over six years with major support from national foundations and is being used to provide leadership development for school principals nationwide.
Using the NISL program, the Minnesota Principals Academy enables cohorts of practicing principals to put leadership best practices from education, business, military, and other fields to work on behalf of their students and schools. Delivered in two and three-day segments over the course of one year, the curriculum combines face-to-face instruction in workshops, seminars, and study groups with interactive Web-based learning.
Our goal? To create a statewide network of district and charter school leaders who are motivated and have the skills to create and sustain schools in which all students are on the path to college readiness by the end of high school.
Background
The Minnesota Principals Academy was created in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association, the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, and the University of Minnesota. Participant registration fees are supported through funding from the Minnesota Legislature and participant districts. Since 2013, the Academy has been based in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development (OLPD) in the College of Education and Human Development.
An Academy participant presents their Action Learning Project to an audience of MPA peers.
(Photo credit: Jairus Davis, CEHD)
Past Participants Say...
In an independent evaluation, 81% of participants said the Principals Academy was "excellent" compared to other leadership development programs, and all said it changed their professional practice (CAREI). Minnesota principals reported in an independent survey that assistance in driving change in their schools is the #1 reason they would participate in a leadership development program (CSOM).
“The Minnesota Principals Academy is the best professional development I have ever been a part of.”
“Life changing. I wish this was a mandatory experience for all principals to participate in.”
“The most transformative professional development that I have ever received. The work was thought-provoking and whatever you put into it, you took out of it. The collaboration with other principals has been instrumental in my growth and Katie along with the guest facilitators care about our success. I hope one day to pay that forward myself.”
“Hands down, it was one of the best professional development opportunities I’ve been a part of. Slowing down and taking time to THINK about education, its history and where we are today, instructional research, and what it takes to make transformational change was worth all the days away from the district, as going forward I know all of my future decisions will be grounded in ‘what does the research say’ and ‘how will I evaluate if what we’re doing is effective.’ Simple concepts, but concepts not always regularly practiced in education.”
“Pivotal to my future. It filled each and every blind spot and hole in my prior training. BOSA is one thing – and has 99 things – but this program is the lifeblood for future growth and a learning mindset. The colleagues and relationships that I’ve gained are the bridge to my future as well. The collective thinking and learning that we did is the inspiration by which I will continue to believe I can live and do this important work. The opportunity cost seemed high (two days out of the building each month) – but it was worth it in the investment in future learning and thinking.”
“The Minnesota Principals Academy is the best professional development for principals – there is no equal. The time given and the depth of the learning creates a foundation to have a profound effect on education.”
"it’s really action-oriented. It’s not just sit-and-get. From day one, you are getting things that will help your school.”
“The Minnesota Principals Academy was the best professional development that I have received in my eleven years as an elementary principal. The ability to network and share ideas with colleagues working in the field has been invaluable in my continued growth as the instructional leader in my school.”
"By far the best professional development that I have ever done as an educational leader. I wish I would have done it ten years ago—honestly, I wish I would have been exposed to many of the topics when I was still teaching. I know MPA will make me a better educational leader in the future."
“The depth of knowledge of the facilitators and the director is unbelievable. Their knowledge is rooted in and scaffolded upon research-based practices in education. There is no doubt in my mind I am a better educator and administrator as a result of this academy.”
“The Principals Academy has provided me the most rigorous and relevant learning experience I’ve experienced as a principal. As a rural Minnesota principal who experiences regional limitations to professional development, our cohort has stretched my thinking and positively pushed my practice of leading—best professional growth in my career!”
“The Minnesota Principals Academy is unique because it is geared towards ALL aspects of the work we do as principals. It gives us the time and space to learn, collaborate with colleagues, implement new learning at our buildings, and come back to reflect. No other professional development has the continuity that allows for the learning, implementation and the building of professional relationships like MPA does.”
2025-2027 Twin Cities and Regional Cohorts
We intend to launch two new cohorts of the Minnesota Principals Academy in the summer or early fall of 2025. One cohort will take place in the Twin Cities and one will take place in greater Minnesota. We are currently seeking input from school and district leaders from around the state to determine where the 2025-2027 Minnesota Principals Academy regional cohort in greater Minnesota will be held. If your region has an interest in bringing the Academy to a location that can serve 25-30 school leaders, please review the application procedure below. All regional cohort applications are due March 1, 2025. Additionally, please consider contacting Dr. Pekel (kpekel@umn.edu).
If you’re interested in applying for the Twin Cities Cohort, you can do so on this page using the application below. All individual applications to participate in the 2025-27 Twin Cities cohort are due on or before May 16, 2025.
An Academy participant presents their Action Learning Project to colleagues.
(Photo Credit: Jairus Davis, CEHD)
Application Deadline: May 16, 2025
Cost
The cost of the program is $7,000/participant. Currently, half of that cost is covered for public school leaders through legislative funding appropriated to the Minnesota Department of Education. The remaining $3,500 is paid over two fiscal years, leaving each participant’s district responsible for $1,750 per year. This legislative funding is expected to continue through 2027.
Selection Factors
Applicants must have:
- Leadership responsibility for an entire school or program (principal, assistant principal, special education director, etc.)
- If assistant principal, exercised responsibility for instructional programming (beyond student discipline)
- An interest in improving as an instructional leader and improving academic outcomes for students
- A commitment to leading a Minnesota school/program for at least 3 more years
Application
By applying, applicants agree to seek Superintendent or supervisor approval to attend all 28 days of content, pay the $3500 program fee over two academic years, and engage in the culminating Action Learning Project.
Academy participants discuss a colleague's Action Learning Project
(Photo Credit: Jairus Davis, CEHD)
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
Is your Region Interested in Hosting the Next Minnesota Principals Academy Cohort?
The Minnesota Principals Academy has successfully served over 700 principals across the state of Minnesota since its establishment at the University of Minnesota in 2006. As a result of legislative funding, we have been able to offer this excellent professional development at a reduced cost in a regional location in greater Minnesota. We are optimistic that this funding will continue in the current legislative session, and are excited to announce that the application process for hosting the next regional cohort of the Minnesota Principals Academy has opened.
Two new cohorts are slated to begin in the fall of 2025: one will be in the Twin Cities and one in a regional center that serves principals in greater Minnesota. It is the intention of the University, in collaboration with MESPA, MASSP, and MASA to select a location that serves a group of principals who are eager to engage in this 18-month professional development program, who have the support of their districts, and who have a commitment to collaboration in their region.
This page outlines the steps and supports available for the application process. Please note: there is no application form. Applications should consist of a narrative containing the requested information outlined below and any additional support documents.
Regional cohort applicants must have 25-35 committed participants to be considered for selection. We suggest a regional leader engage with the region’s superintendents first to see if they support the financial commitment ($1750/year) and time commitment (28 total days over two years) of their administrators participating in the Academy. Materials outlining the Academy’s purpose, curriculum, example cohort schedules, testimonials from past participants, and achieved Action Learning Projects can be found on this website, along with some basic “fast facts.”
In addition, Dr. Katie Pekel, MPA Director and Executive Director of Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota, would be happy to attend a regional meeting to share more information about the Academy and answer any questions superintendents or participants may have, or to put superintendents in contact with colleagues who have had their principals participate in the program.
Once regional support is evident, securing potential participants to reach the 25-35 cohort size will be necessary. We suggest using MESPA and MASSP division communication and meetings to share the potential of a cohort in the region. Dr. Pekel would encourage interested principals to attend any regional information meetings, and is also happy to put prospective participants in contact with current or past participants. Once there is a general understanding of the program, it will be important to gain commitments from prospective participants. Submitting potential participant names, positions, and districts will be helpful to an application. While the funding from the legislature is intended first for principals and assistant principals, we do encourage other school administrators to engage if the host region agrees. This could include superintendents; directors of special services, special education, curriculum, human resources, or professional development; or other administrators directly engaged in leading the district for improved student outcomes.
Traditionally, regions have excellent resources for hosting professional development programs such as the Principals Academy. This could include a school site, district office, service cooperative, or any location that can comfortably host 30-35 participants and allow for catered lunch to be brought into the site. We prefer space that allows for flexible grouping in tables, has reliable technology including overhead projector, sound and internet access, and is centrally located or convenient for most regional participants to get to. If the region can work out a way for the space to be used at no cost, that is preferable. We have had excellent support from our current past sites at SWWC Cooperative in Marshall, Lakes Country Cooperative in Fergus Falls, and Sourcewell in Staples. They not only physically hosted the Academy, but also enrolled key educational leaders from their organizations to learn alongside their participants for immediate support and the intention to lead ongoing regional collaboration once the Academy concludes.
A narrative application should be written and submitted to Dr. Pekel at kpekel@umn.edu at the University of Minnesota addressing each of the points below. Selection of the Greater Minnesota Regional Cohort will be made by May 1 in consultation with MESPA, MASSP, and MASA.
Regional Application Components
Location Rationale
This should include the specific location of the proposed cohort and rationale as to why this is a good next regional hub for the Academy. Evidence could include the commitment of the region to collaboration in the past, relationships among the districts, cooperation with other supporting agencies like a service cooperative or Regional Center of Excellence. A specific site for the Academy to meet should be included as well as the potential terms for use of the site.
District/Participant Commitment
Specific commitments from the region’s superintendents will greatly enhance an application. We suggest incorporating the district and participant commitment into one letter from each district outlining the superintendent’s commitment and the names of the prospective participants. If there were to be more than 35 individuals interested in participation, we will use individual applications for selection as we do in the Twin Cities cohort, or rely on the regional leaders to help devise a plan to best meet the region’s needs.
Specific Region Needs/Assets
We realize that in bringing the Academy to any location we are coming to a place that has many of their own assets and potentially perceived needs. Please tell us about some of the good work that has been happening in your region, what the region may see as potential needs in principal professional development, and most importantly, why the Minnesota Principals Academy seems to be a good fit for your region at this time.
Cost and Funding
Participant cost is $1750 per academic year. The actual cost of the program is $7000/participant. Currently, half of that cost is covered for public school leaders through legislative funding appropriated to the MDE. We are optimistic that this will continue through 2027.
Schedule
The cohorts meet about every 6- 8 weeks for two-day sessions during the week over the course of 18-24 months. There are on average 6 days of meetings in the summer. Examples of current schedules can be viewed here.
Content
The two-day units cover a comprehensive look at the improvements of schools through a standards-aligned instructional system. While the unit topics and detailed curriculum overview can be found here, highlights of the program include: international bench-marking; strategic thinking; a standards based instructional system framework; the content areas of mathematics, science, literacy, and history; ELL; racial equity; data and assessment; teacher evaluation and coaching; professional development and team building, change; and program evaluation.
Expected Outcomes
In addition to the collaborative learning that takes place in the Academy, each participant completes an Action Learning Project where they analyze a problem of practice in their context, develop a strategy for improvement, and evaluate that improvement strategy for its intended objective in order to make continued improvement.
Facilitators / Instructors
The program is run by the University of Minnesota’s Executive Director of Educational Leadership, and sessions are facilitated by the Principal in Residence and practicing school and district leaders in Minnesota who have gone through the program and are certified by the National Institute of School Leadership and the University of Minnesota.