As school districts nationwide grapple with a shortage of teachers and principals, innovative solutions are emerging in hopes of addressing the crisis. A recent survey conducted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals revealed that 38% of principals are considering departure within the next three years.

The KIPP charter school network has implemented a program to help retain and cultivate principals within their school district. The program aims to promote leadership within their network, providing real-world experience and mentorship to aspiring principals.

Brittany Moore, an instructional leader at the KIPP Tech Valley Primary Charter School in Albany, is pursuing another degree while enrolled in the KIPP Principal in Residence program, a two-year residency designed to prepare aspiring principals.

"I'm currently working on my master's [degree] and I'm almost done. But the skills that I'm learning through a textbook really come to life through this program," Moore said.

The program seeks to cultivate a pipeline of leaders capable of assuming leadership roles within the KIPP network, providing participants with practical experience and mentorship opportunities.

"The program is really designed to have a pipeline of leaders so that if somebody goes to a new school or moves up to the regional, it moves up to a regional position. There is a strong candidate who's able to take over that school," Moore explained.

Moore highlighted the program’s approach, contrasting it with traditional routes to school leadership.

"The traditional public schools will require an advanced degree, a master's degree, and going through testing to be certified to be an administrator in a public school. But this program really gives you the tools and like the real-world experience of what it takes to be a school leader," she added.

Phiana Wilcox, a program graduate now serving as principal of the school, emphasized the program’s role in providing support and training for emerging educational leaders.

"To be able to develop and go from a teacher to a leader to leading the school has been a really fulfilling process where I can really see our kids and our teachers grow," Wilcox said.

"Being able to talk to the principal at the moment to hear like, 'how did you do that?' Because I would have never figured it out and just hear the steps and the mental and thinking process that went through some scenarios that you anticipate happening as a principal but don't always know what to do in those moments. And so the PIR program helps you do both sides of that," Wilcox added.

Applicants to the program need at least 2 years of instructional leadership experience. Successful candidates will be full-time members of their residency school leadership teams, practicing skills and competencies needed to lead high-performing schools. They may need to move to a new school for further growth and development.