New EDL Grant Helps Principal Preparation Programs Adjust to Pandemic Realities

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption to all facets of the educational system, and the development of future leaders has been no exception. Ordinarily, aspiring school administrators would engage in hands-on experience with a variety of responsibilities a school leader will encounter. This might involve shadowing a principal, engaging the community or leading professional development and other on-the-job tasks. 

But with education gone virtual and mentors spread perilously thin, existing and new challenges around school needs have surfaced that current and aspiring administrators will need to be prepared to address.

“It's been really difficult to get authentic administrator field work experiences,” said Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Ojeda, assistant professor in the San Diego State University Department of Educational Leadership (EDL). 

Fortunately, thanks to a new grant from the Stuart Foundation, EDL is ensuring that crucial work stays on track. 

Overseen by Dr. Gonzalez Ojeda and Dr. Douglas Fisher, EDL professor and chair, the $100,000 award expands on an existing Stuart Foundation-funded EDL initiative that helps redesign preparation programs for future principals at 12 California partners. The new funding will enable those partners — as well as 64 other leader preparation programs in the state — to create innovative administrator preparation experiences in a virtual or hybrid environment. 

That might take the form of creating training simulations, launching virtual problem-solving cohorts or engaging aspiring administrators in community engagement activities. The specific activities will be based on the feedback from each partner institution, which will influence areas of focus for workgroups. 

 “We're really excited about this grant because we're able to extend this work with programs across the state and say, ‘Here's the time, here's the space and here's the money — let's rethink what key experiences should look like,’” Gonzalez Ojeda said. “‘What are some consequential activities that your programs have been thinking about or would like to further develop? Let's build workgroups to collaborate.’” 

EDL’s Stuart Foundation-funded work has a strong focus on equity, particularly around the recruitment of future administrators who are representative of the communities they serve. Gonzalez Ojeda said the 12 partner institutions — which include school districts, county offices of education and other university programs — engage in “courageous conversations” to critique practices and dismantle systemic barriers that may exist. 

“It's been a really tight-knit group of people,” Gonzalez Ojeda added. “They're passionate about what they do and passionate about supporting aspiring leaders — especially right now when they need that visionary leadership centered around equity.”