Leadership for Effective Academic Reform Now (LEARN)

The Truman Pierce Institute (TPI) received the Leadership for Effective Academic Reform Now (LEARN) Grant, provided by Alabama’s Department of Education, for three fiscal years beginning in 2006. LEARN sought to address the need for on-going, sustainable, professional development for school administrators and teacher leaders through the development and support of leadership academies. Nine school districts were selected for LEARN. All of these districts were rural and served populations that are economically impoverished. After assessing school administrators’ and teacher leaders’ skill levels, personnel worked with educational professionals at the university level to develop and implement professional experiences designed to address site-specific as well as network-wide needs.

Through the LEARN Grant, TPI also held regional mentoring support sessions that offered teacher leaders the opportunity to receive additional support and training. Each support session highlighted key practices of an effective mentor, the stages of mentoring, along with examining key areas of concerns for the teacher leaders. Through LEARN funding, TPI sponsored activities that helped to establish district and regional networks focused on improving working and learning conditions for teachers and principals, engaging participants in problem identification, and empowering them to resolve those issues through action planning and research. A total of 503 teacher leaders and administrators representing the selected school districts participated in program activities over the course of the three year program.

Last Updated: Jan 19, 2012