Gone are the days when principals and assistant principals acted as pure administrators. School leaders now are more properly defined as chief executives, with all the responsibilities and accountability the position carries.
Nowhere is the leadership role more significant than in a large urban school district. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has already made great strides in strengthening its school leadership, but we need to ensure a continuous supply of effective leaders.
In recognition of our efforts, and to strengthen our body of principals and APs, CMS, along with five other large urban districts, received a
Wallace Foundation grant of $7.5 million in the fall of 2011.
The Wallace Foundation funding has been an invaluable stimulus to the ongoing CMS commitment to hiring, retaining and supporting effective leaders. We firmly believe that great leadership combined with great teaching is the key to great student achievement.
