For Immediate Release: Contact: Feb. 20, 2014 Lara Beck, (317) 727-0016

Less than one month remains to apply for Indiana Principal Leadership Institute’s second class Application deadline is March 15

(Terre Haute, Ind.) The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute (IPLI) at Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education announced today that less than one month remains to apply for the Institute’s second class. The application deadline is March 15, which has been extended due to winter storms and school cancellations.

Principals interested in applying for the second class should apply online at www.indianapli.org. Their responsibilities include attending five seminars each year. A one-time financial contribution of $1,000 from the school corporation is required for participation, as it cements both the commitment of the principal and superintendent to the program. Nominating a principal implies the superintendent and school board think the principal has the potential to improve their school, are supportive of positive change in the school and will allow data collection to occur. Fifty principals will be selected to participate.

IPLI is a two-year experience designed to address the professional needs of Indiana public school principals with an emphasis on student success. The institute will increase a principal’s capacity to address the current needs of their school, such as teacher evaluation models, student performance, community involvement and shaping a strong school culture.

IPLI launched last summer with its inaugural cohort of 57 principals. These principals, who work at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels are currently working on action research projects, which include: increasing classroom observations; increasing teacher collaboration time; working with teachers to utilize peer observations to improve their practice; initiating e-learning initiatives; improving communication with all stakeholders through social media and weekly newsletters; and, implementing ten-minute in-service ideas.

All IPLI principals are guided by mentors, who are established and respected educators in their communities. Eleven Hoosier educators currently are serving as mentors to the members of the inaugural class.

The second cohort will launch this July at Indiana State University. Three nationally recognized educators will address the principals over the two-day seminar. Rick Wormeli, a teacher, author and one of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in the country, will provide the keynote address on resources for educational progress. Nancy Fictman Dana, an award-winning researcher, will discuss how to use action research as a professional development tool. Eric Sheninger, a high school principal and author of Digital Leadership, will address how to use technology to transform school cultures.

In addition to the targeted work with each cohort, IPLI is committed to serving as a resource for all Indiana principals, their schools and their school communities. This includes sharing research, providing access to leadership assessments, and offering tools to develop action research plans. IPLI’s website, www.indianapli.org, serves as the clearinghouse for this information.

The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute at Indiana State University was created by bipartisan legislation authored by Sens. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) and Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn). It was co- sponsored by Sens. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute), Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and Lindel Hume (D- Princeton) and Reps. (R-Terre Haute), Alan Morrison (R-Terre Haute), Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon), (D-Vincennes), Sue Errington (D-Muncie), and (D-Terre Haute). Gov. Mike Pence approved the legislation in May 2013.

To learn more about the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute, please visit www.indianapli.org

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