VFEL believes that every principal and assistant principal deserve the services of a mentor and coach at any time of their career, from those who are new to their positions to those who are transitioning and need higher levels of leadership  development. Leaders who serve in PreK – 12 schools, regardless of the number of years as an administrator, can benefit and grow from having a mentor or coach who listens, challenges through insightful questions, and co-creates actions, assessments, and reflection.

 

The Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership has a long history of developing powerful programs and trainings for school leaders throughout Virginia. These efforts have also led to collaborations and sharings with other organizations throughout the nation – all for the betterment of the field of educational leadership.

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Two programs illustrate this commitment to school leadership:

 

During 2023-2025, VFEL developed an intensive program with training for  mentors that included a 6-month practicum with principals who were in their zero-three years of experience in their current positions. The Virginia Principals  Mentoring Pilot (VPMP) involved other collaborators –  VASSP, VAESP, VDOE, and NASSP –  to design and organize content, materials, and training deliveries. Mentors practiced their learning through weekly contacts and on-site visits with their principal mentees. A comprehensive article was written and included in the January 2025 edition of NASSP Principal Leadership.

 

During 2009-2010, the Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership collaborated with the Office of School Improvement of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia to provide  training to school improvement teams.  The purpose of the training was to provide principals, mentor coaches, and central office staff with the knowledge, tools, and skills to work with school faculties to make effective decisions resulting in increased student achievement.  The goal was to provide continuous school improvement for the sake of all children. The training included onsite sessions by The Virginia Model: Mentor Coaching for School Improvement Institute, webinars and school site visits.   Each school division involved in the initiative identified a mentor coach to work with the principal and the school improvement team to develop and implement a school improvement plan. This mentor coach was trained in mentor coaching, effective curricular and instructional strategies, and an adaptation of Breaking Ranks in the Middle (BRIM).The initiative was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education through Section 1003(g). Summary research is available in The Virginia Model: Mentor Coaching for School Improvement.