Vision
The New York City Department of Education Office of Leadership is reimagining new possibilities for leadership development by providing robust professional learning for system-wide talent groups. The Office of Leadership nurtures leadership in service to the 32 community school districts (CSD) that comprise New York City. We believe that focusing on comprehensive talent development from central level leadership through assistant principals using robust and targeted professional learning, support, coaching, and research are the greatest levers to achieve excellence for community school districts.
In alignment with the Chancellors goal of developing people, the Office of Leadership will support talent-development that builds a pipeline of leaders that are prepared to serve the system in schools, districts, or centrally.
Statement of Purpose/What We Do
The mission of the New York City Department of Education Office of Leadership is to support talent by leading and facilitating professional learning and leadership development opportunities to ensure coherence and sustainability throughout the system. The Office of Leadership works with leaders to strengthen the leadership muscle of NYCDOE talent in service to building and sustaining a pipeline of leaders. As a strategy for coherence the New York City Department of Education Office of Leadership developed the following requisite focus areas for talent development.
Focus Areas
- Focus Area 1: Onboarding and Leadership Development
- Focus Area 2: Support and Retention
- Focus Area 3: Supervision and Evaluation
Research in Support of the Work
In alignment with Wallace Foundation research and the New York City Department of Education Chancellor’s Priorities of Equity and Developing people, the Office of Leadership understands that “Successful educational leaders develop their districts and schools as effective organizations that support and sustain the performance of administrators and teachers as well as students." In doing so, we understand the complex interdependence of community relationships and will work to provide a solid foundation of coherence, research, community thought partners, coaches and courses to shape confident and prepared leaders who are astute problem solvers, community builders, and equity warriors.
Educational Leadership Executive Coaches
Educational Leadership Executive Coaches (ELEC) is a team of International Coaching Federation (ICF) Master Certified Coaches (MCC) and Professional Certified Coaches (PCC) within the Division of School Leadership. ELEC provides Coach Education and non-evaluative, confidential executive leadership coaching to principals and system level leaders in service of students. Coaching is an innovative approach to job-embedded leadership development that is non-evaluative, solutions focused and self-directed. In 2023 ELEC now provides Coach Education leading to an ICF Credential to district team members ensuring that new principals have access to district-based coaching with ICF credentialed or soon to be credentialed coaches. For more information visit ELEC InfoHub page.
Leadership Programs
Aspiring Superintendent Academy (ASA)
The Academy for Aspiring Superintendents (ASA) prepares pedagogical leaders to become Superintendents. Candidates must have worked for at least three years as a principal in the NYCDOE and be tenured. Candidates will also be supported through our existing partnership with Bank St. College. For more information see the ASA one-pager.
Aspiring Principal Fellowship (formerly the Assistant Principal Leadership Institute- APLI)
This one-year program is designed to support high-performing assistant principals in becoming principals. The curriculum focuses on developing leadership skills including systems thinking, school improvement, addressing issues of racial equity and disproportionality, and distributive leadership. For more information see the APF one-pager.
Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program (LEAP)
This is a competency-based graduate program run in partnership with Bank Street College of Education that prepares teacher leaders to become assistant principals and principals in NYC public schools. For more information see the LEAP one-pager.
Aspiring Assistant Principal Fellowship (formerly Wallace Leadership Fellows Program)
This is an intensive one-year program designed to prepare candidates who hold a current School Building Leader (SBL) or School District Administrator (SDA) certification and are pursuing a NYCDOE assistant principal position within one to three years. The four major foci of the program are effective teacher feedback cycles, leading with equity, adaptive leadership approaches and professional preparation. The content of the program is grounded in developing effective leadership skills and strategies that focus on creating and sustaining a healthy and inclusive school community that drives academic and social emotional learning in a safe, supportive, and challenging environment. For more information, please see the AAPF one-pager.
Applying for School Leadership
Candidates must complete and submit the PCP application in the Teacher Support Network (TSN) and receive a confirmation email to be able to register for a scheduled series.
Anyone with a NY State school leader certification (e.g., SAS, SBL, or SDA) is eligible to be a Principal Candidate Pool member. Eligible applicants must complete the Principal Candidate Pool assessment process in order to become a member.
You do not need to be in the Principal Candidate Pool in order to apply for AP positions. For more information visit the Openings for Assistant Principals Page .
Applying for School Leadership
Candidates must complete and submit the PCP application in the Teacher Support Network (TSN) and receive a confirmation email to be able to register for a scheduled series.
Anyone with a NY State school leader certification (e.g., SAS, SBL, or SDA) is eligible to be a Principal Candidate Pool member. Eligible applicants must complete the Principal Candidate Pool assessment process in order to become a member.
You do not need to be in the Principal Candidate Pool in order to apply for AP positions. For more information visit the Openings for Assistant Principals Page.
Contact Us
You can email us at Leadershippathways@schools.nyc.gov or tell us how we can help you via our contact form.