Who It’s For

The program is designed for experienced school leaders, including Assistant Principals and Principals, and is intentionally paired with a principal intern from a certified preparation program who serves as an active member of the leadership team. This two-part model ensures that while experienced leaders are renewing and growing, emerging leaders are gaining meaningful, hands-on experience in real school environments. Together, the fellow and intern form a collaborative partnership that benefits not only their own development, but also the broader school community.
 

When It Happens

Leaders are eligible to apply every four years of service within the same school or district. The fellowship experience is intentionally scheduled from late November through January, lasting approximately six to eight weeks. This timing aligns with the academic calendar and allows for a natural transition point within the school year, minimizing disruption while maximizing the opportunity for focused engagement.
 

How It Works

The process begins with an application submitted in January prior to the fellowship year. Applicants design a personalized learning experience centered on a clearly defined problem of practice or leadership focus area. This proposal outlines the types of experiences the fellow will pursue, such as school visits, coursework, research, and reflective practices, along with a wellness component and a projected budget. A key element of the application is the leader’s commitment to mentoring a principal intern, ensuring that leadership development is embedded within the experience.
 

Applications are reviewed by a panel of district leaders and program partners, including the Principal Renewal Project and aligned educational organizations. Selected fellows represent a cohort of ten to fifteen leaders whose work demonstrates both strong potential for impact and commitment to the profession. 

Principal prep programs will simultaneously identify and select participants to be paired with principal fellows. This selection and pairing process will be in  coordination with schools, districts and Program staff to ensure school and program goals are met.
 

What the Experience Looks Like
 

Preparation (Summer–Fall)
 

In the months leading up to the fellowship, fellows and their paired interns engage in intentional planning to ensure a smooth and successful transition. This preparation includes mentoring, building a transition plan, alignment on leadership responsibilities, and clear communication of goals and expectations with the school, district, and preparation program partners. Fellows and interns also participate in pre-program cohort sessions, building a network of peers and refining their plans for learning and renewal.
 

During the Fellowship (6–8 Weeks)
 

During the fellowship period, principals step away from the daily operational demands of their role to fully engage in professional learning, reflection, and renewal. Their experiences may include school visits, research, coursework, and intentional wellness practices designed to support long-term sustainability in leadership. At the same time, principal interns step into authentic leadership roles, serving in assistant principal or principal capacities depending on the school context, with ongoing support from the district and their preparation programs. This structure ensures continuity for the school while providing a deeply immersive and meaningful leadership experience for the intern.
 

After the Fellowship
 

Following the fellowship, principals return to their schools with new insights and strategies to strengthen their leadership and school systems. Through a formalized report-out process, they share their learning with their school communities, district leaders, and preparation program partners, extending the impact of the experience beyond the individual. Interns also participate in a post-program cohort reflection session, reinforcing their learning and contributing to a broader professional network. 
 

The Impact
 

The Principal Renewal Project is intentionally designed as two halves of a whole: renewing experienced leaders while simultaneously developing future school leaders. This integrated approach strengthens principal retention, builds more effective leadership pipelines, and supports greater continuity within schools. By investing in both current and future leaders at the same time, the program creates a lasting impact that extends beyond individual participants to entire school systems.
 

In Summary

The Principal Renewal Fellowship creates the time, space, and structure for school leaders to step back, grow, and return stronger, while preparing the next generation of principals to lead with confidence and real-world experience.