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As you search the internet for advice on what new principals should do first, you’ll find a myriad of checklists, tips, and guidance—many of which are quite valuable. Some new principals are fortunate to enter a district with a robust onboarding or maybe a comprehensive handbook to steer them in the right direction. The luckiest ones are paired with a mentor or coach for their first couple of years. All of these resources are crucial, and I hope every new principal starting this fall has access to them. However, some of the most important preparation for your first principal role is to get clear about who you are and what you will need when you begin this important transition. Below, I offer some things to consider and a few resources to help.

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The Bridge District Learning Network, supported by the Illinois ROE Lead Hubs and WestEd through a grant from the US Department of Education, offers professional development and coaching at no cost to district central office teams and is a year-long, voluntary opportunity for leaders to develop and/or modify systems and structures for principal support, principal retention, and principal development. The focus will be on aligning systems, removing barriers, and creating conditions for the development, recruitment, and retention of principals, specifically women and/or people of color. You can learn more about the Bridge District Learning Network here: https://bit.ly/BDLNFlyer

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As the school year ends, we would like to reflect and celebrate your work as school leaders focused on equity and achievement in Illinois! WestEd and the Illinois Regional Offices of Education would like to invite you to our in-person convening on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Illinois school success is bolstered by excellent, diverse leaders capable of meeting students and teachers’ learning needs. This Bridge Project learning event brings together aspiring principals, district central office teams and state stakeholders in conversation about improving school leadership support.