ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — Amanda Graham is no stranger to walking the halls of St. Paul's Elementary School. But lately, it feels like the first time.

What You Need To Know

The North Carolina Leadership Instructional Academy is a new initiative created through a partnership with the North Carolina Public Instruction Department and the Relay Graduate School of Education

The goal is to build up the capacity of school administrators helping them work with teachers to improve student outcomes

Robeson County started the program in May

It's the first North Carolina school district to use the program, which may be implemented statewide in the years to come

"In the past, I would come in [and] as long as the students appeared to be engaged, my lens was not as focused on exactly what the students were producing," Graham said.

Graham's part of a brand-new training program that is transforming what it means to be a principal. She no longer just observes, she's another teacher who is expecting changes in that moment.

"I always start with something positive. However, living in the moment can be quick, fast, and it can be powerful," she said."I always start with something positive. However, living in the moment can be quick, fast, and it can be powerful," she said.

Graham's focus has shifted from teaching the group to catering to an individual child's needs.

​"Those duties and roles have totally changed our lens and the way we look at things knowing that we have to do our own homework," Graham said.

If there are learning barriers, Graham helps educators move beyond them. Many students are behind academically and dealing with trauma at home.

"Do we know that they're behind? Yes. Do we make individual and small group time for that? Yes, but we're giving them the most rigorous education possible," she said.

Students aren't alone in their struggles. Graham's office is also a safe space for teachers.

"We've had to have some real hard conversations inside this room reminding them why they're here and that we will make it through this," Graham said.

From providing emotional support to restructuring lessons, Graham's wearing more hats than ever before.

"I felt like I was evaluating the best I could, but I wasn't," she said. "Nowhere near where I needed to be."

Graham's biggest hurdle was accepting things weren't working and adapting to that change.

"It's not a 'got you' kind of thing, it's not, 'I'm coming in to take over,' it's, 'I'm coming in because you need support,'" Graham said.