The Aspiring Assistant Principal Institute (AAPI) leadership development program, managed by the School Leader Pipeline Team of the Department of Principal Quality (DPQ), has continued to support and develop aspiring assistant principals through focused education and training. In partnership with Teach Plus, this initiative has proven to be a crucial step in cultivating capable participants in the school leader pipeline who are on the journey towards school leadership. 

Tier 1 (AAPI T1) is a semester-long series of professional learning sessions aimed at preparing high-potential aspiring assistant principals to activate their own potential and consider themselves as leaders while in their current school-based or district role (teacher, coach, counselor, case managers/social worker, etc.). 

Tier 1 Focus:

• Building leadership profile
• Leveraging informal leadership to impact change
• Examining systems and practices of school leadership

Objective: Gain general understanding of the AP role; self- assess readiness for school leadership

Example PD Sessions/Offerings:

• AAPI Orientation and Framing
• Strategic Team Leadership
• Instructional Leadership & Leading Adult Learning
• Unconscious Bias & the “Culture of Nice”
• AP Panel: 1st Year Reflections
• OPTIONAL: ISBE Teacher Evaluation Initial Certification Course (REACH)