What We Do
The National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) offers high-quality, research-based professional development programs designed to give principals the critical knowledge and skills they need to be instructional leaders and improve student achievement in their schools.
The Executive Development Program was created with $11 million of research and development over five years. It provides job-embedded training for principals at all stages of their careers – new, aspiring, or veteran. Through online and face-to-face instruction over a 12- to 18-month period, NISL-trained faculty deliver state-of-the-art instruction that incorporates best practices in adult learning, such as case studies, computer-assisted simulations, video presentations, and facilitated group discussions with other school leaders. Drawing on the best leadership development techniques from a variety of fields – including education, the military, business, law, and medicine – NISL's Executive Development Program provides a powerful learning experience for principals in struggling schools or principals in good schools who aspire for great results. The cohort-based training enables principals to learn from each other, share strategies, and build common approaches to address the challenges they face.
NISL also conducts shorter professional development Institutes of two to five days in length. These programs provide principals with intensive leadership training focused on specific and pressing challenges facing school leaders today:
- Early Childhood Leadership
- English Language Learners
- Excellence in Science
- Students with Disabilities