Fellowship
Empowering Leaders to Improve Outcomes
Students deserve excellent and equitable schools, highly effective teachers and leaders, and welcoming and culturally responsive school communities that foster their growth as intellectuals and individuals. LLA empowers school leaders to create these conditions through our flagship Fellowship program.
Developed with research-based best practices, the Fellowship combines rigorous professional development with individualized coaching—helping sitting and aspiring principals to improve outcomes, increase opportunities, and disrupt inequity in underserved communities. The integration of coaching and professional development supports Fellows in implementing new learning immediately and effectively in their schools, culminating in transformative change.
Fellows strengthen their instructional expertise, improve their executive management skills, and join a continually expanding network of mission-driven leaders who collaborate across sectors to transform our communities.
LLA Results: An Independent Program Evaluation
LLA invited our colleagues in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development to conduct an independent program evaluation. The evaluation, performed by Elizabeth Kahale of the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment department at Boston College, demonstrated the effectiveness of LLA's Principal Fellowship Program. By analyzing data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Accountability Report, the study assessed the performance of K-12 schools led by LLA alumni from cohorts VIII through XIII.
The findings revealed that schools led by LLA alumni consistently achieved statistically significant higher Accountability Percentile scores compared to their peers, indicating superior overall performance. Additionally, these schools showed statistically significant improvements in Target Percentage Growth, highlighting their greater success in meeting academic goals. This data supports the effectiveness of the LLA Fellowship in enhancing leadership and driving better educational outcomes.
The results affirm that strong leadership, as cultivated through the LLA fellowship, is essential for advancing school performance and promoting equity in education. The study calls for further research to explore how leadership impacts educational performance, aiming to support initiatives that advance excellence and equity in K-12 education.
Components
Comprehensive Assessments
Undergo a 360 Degree Leadership Assessment to capture their strengths and areas for growth. At the start and end of the year long Fellowship, each Fellow’s assigned Leadership Coach will conduct an in-person school review to asses school instruction and culture.
Individualized Coaching
Fellows will receive up to 150 hours of 1:1 coaching from their assigned Leadership Coach (LC). The role of the LC is to both push and support Fellows, so they are able to continue to create and sustain a culture of achievement in their school after the fellowship year.
Individualized Development Plan
Fellows will work directly with their Leadership Coach to create an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) that provides a roadmap for increasing their leadership capacity. Data and LLA's Standard of Excellence for School Leaders rubric will be used to create the IDP.
Leadership Retreats
The initial Cohort Retreat in May is an opportunity for Fellows to build a cohort community and to begin the Fellowship year grounded in key learning. The Winter Retreat in January provides Fellows the space to review their 360-survey feedback and reflect on their Equity Impact Initiative.
Intensive Summer Institute
Fellows will gather for a series of professional development sessions. Topics include: Creating Inclusive and Equitable School Communities, Excellent Instruction, Leading Strategically, Strategic Planning, Data Driven Equity, Social Identity, Social Bias, and Social Justice.
Professional Development
Monthly PD sessions help achieve specific learning objectives—strengthening instructional expertise and coaching strategies, building executive management skills, and developing equity-centered leadership capacity to ensure a culture of achievement in school communities.
Equity Impact Initiative
Each Fellow's EII will be designed to improve instruction and disrupt inequity in their school. LLA will reference a research-based theory of practice and set of indicators, aimed at increasing student achievement among students - in particular students who have been historically marginalized.
Deadlines
Applications for Cohort XV are now open! This is your chance to join a vibrant community of learners and innovators. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow and connect with other school leaders.
Monday, January 6, 2025
Primary Sitting and Aspiring Principal Deadline
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Secondary Application Deadline (Sitting and Aspiring Principal Candidates)
Friday, March 28, 2025
Decisions Sent
Cohort XV SY 2025-26 Professional Development Dates
| Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 1:00pm -- Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 3:30pm | Cohort Retreat |
| June 3rd, 2025 8:30am-4:30pm | Aspiring Principals PD |
| Monday, July 7th, 2025 -- Thursday, July 17th, 2025 from 8:00am-4:30pm weekdays | Summer Institute |
| September 2025 - May 2026, 3rd Tuesday of the month | Monthly PD for Sitting Principals |
| September 2025 - May 2026, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month | Monthly PD for Aspiring Principals |
“My LLA Leadership Effectiveness Director has really helped me to put into practice our beliefs, but also to figure out who I am, what I want for Boston, what I want for our kids, and what I want for Catholic education. The cross-sector work is so important, and it is just scratching the surface of what’s beginning for Boston.”