The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) announced it is using approximately $8 million in federal relief to strengthen school leadership and teacher retention in the state.
The three-year initiative starts this school year and includes five specialized programs.
The initiative includes the following programs:
- Moving UP – supporting assistant principals with a focus on leadership
- Principal Induction Academy – providing training to early-career principals in coaching, school climate, professional learning communities, and personnel and resource management
- First Class – providing virtual coaching and mentoring for new teachers
- Data Institute – using data to build schools and improve student achievement
The final program, a grant to the Oklahoma Chapter of Teach for America to combat the teacher shortage, was announced in August.
The OSDE has conducted five Moving UP programs since 2016. The new investment will fund three additional trainings for 120 assistant principals through the 2023-24 school year.
“Moving UP is not your typical professional development for leaders,” said Amber Round, assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary in Pryor, who participated in the program. “It is a think tank for improving education at all levels. The academic success of my school has been greatly impacted by my involvement with Moving UP.”