SURN Principal Academy

Goals and Objectives

The mission of the SURN Principal Academy is to build a leadership development program that increases principals’ instructional knowledge and develops mentor principals to sustain the program. The SURN Principal Academy is designed to connect and empower principals to improve their instructional leadership and relationship-building skills. Such professional development will result in high-yield teaching and student learning by:

Developing knowledge of effective teaching and learning strategies;
Increasing formative feedback that supports teacher reflection, and distributive leadership in professional learning communities;
Providing multiyear cohort support for participating principals;
Recruiting a cadre of expert, veteran principals to coach early-career principals; and
Disseminating project findings.

Activities

The value of effective teachers and the impact of effective school leadership on student achievement are well-documented in educational literature. The SURN Principal Academy is a two year experiential professional learning program developed by SURN with input from division and school leaders.

Principal Group

Academy activities include:

School of Education-based professional learning trainings;
School-based intersession activities such as observations, feedback, coaching, leading professional learning, and conducting surveys;
Professional readings;
Materials for application in the school;
Networking;
Job-alike site visits in schools for collaborative classroom observations;
Follow-up by coaches; and
Design and presentation of an action research project to determine effectiveness of new learning by the school leader

Facilitators

In partnership with coaches and guest presenters, Joy Martin coordinates the SURN Principal Academy and facilitates professional learning for both co-horts of participants. Yvonne Smith-Jones, a Principal Academy founding leader, serves as the Academy's Impact Coach, providing individual support and coaching for each participant throughout the school year. An experienced Principal Academy coach, Alexis Swanson facilitates the Year 1 book study. Founding Principal Academy leader, Chuck Wagner, facilitates professional learning for Year 2 participants and supports both cohorts during in-person and intersession learning.

Testimonials from past participants of the SURN Principal Academy.

AUDIENCE

Principals & Assistant Principals

INFORMATION

2026-27 Session Dates: September 30, November 12, February 18, & April 21
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Check-in starts at 8:00 a.m.
W&M School of Education

FEES

$4,200 - SURN Division Member
$6,300 - General (Non-SURN Division Member)

Includes morning coffee, materials, & lunch for each of the four sessions

Please use the following forms to register participants for the 2026-27 SURN Principal Academy:

Year 1 Registration Agreement - SURN Division Members

Year 1 Registration Agreement - General (Non-SURN Division Members)

Year 2 Registration Agreement - SURN Division Members

Email completed and signed forms to surn@wm.edu by August 28, 2026.

Registration will close approximately one week in advance of this event or earlier, if the event reaches capacity. We will update this webpage when registration closes.

For a full list of SURN Division Members, please visit SURN. If you're interested in your division joining SURN, please have your Superintendent or Superintendent's designee contact Dr. Amy Colley, SURN's Executive Director, at accolley@wm.edu.

Please email surn@wm.edu with questions about registration or this event.