Research on effective schools points to the principal as the key individual in improving schools and student learning. Effective schools have visionary educational leaders knowledgeable about instruction and experienced with management, leaders who inspire the work of teachers in the classroom, who affect the lives of students, and who lead the reform and redesign of school communities.
What is the PRN Program?
Offered in conjunction with Northeastern University the Greater Boston Principal Residency Network (PRN) is an apprenticeship-based principal preparation and licensure program for aspiring leaders of small schools. Through this work, we seek to spur systemic school change by producing a new cadre of educational leaders prepared to take the helm of small, innovative, personalized public schools. The program centers on a rigorous field experience, guided by exceptional practitioners, within the context of schools that have demonstrated significant commitment to small size and school redesign.
In the PRN model, candidates for this program must be housed in a school with 350 students or less, or one that is breaking down into small learning communities of that size. The school should be guided by a coherent set of principles, be engaged in deep reform work, and have a visionary leader at the helm. The PRN is a collaborative partnership of the Center for Collaborative Education, and Northeastern University.
The goals of the Greater Boston Principal Residency Network are:
- To nurture a new generation of educational leaders who are prepared for the complexities of founding and leading small schools, or of redesigning larger schools to help diverse populations of students be academically successful;
- To refine a model for the preparation of educational leaders that is competency-based, rooted in real world practices and problems, and that embeds research and learning in practical application.
The PRN Licensure Program involves students in individual study, cohort group discussions, class presentations, and practical field work all related to current research, practitioners insights, and successful practices. An exceptional faculty and experienced mentors guide students through the program and the residency experiences.
The program meets all Massachusetts DOE requirements and competencies including the demonstration of proficiency in addressing the Professional Standards for Administrators.
Participants earn 24 quarter hour graduate credits from Northeastern University for the licensure portion of this program. All credits earned will apply towards a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership at Northeastern University. The PRN Licensure Program is usually completed in a year to two years. The practicum occurs under the supervision of the program Director and the candidates mentor principal.
Location:
Northeastern University facilities and participants school sites.
Options:
Students may elect to participate in one of the following options leading to licensure as a principal or assistant principal:
- Coursework and 24 quarter hours of graduate credit from Northeastern University
- Coursework and additional courses leading to a Masters degree to which all 24 QH credits will be applied
For more information about PRN licensure program contact Meg Andersen at the Center for Collaborative Education at 617-421-0134 x 232.
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