Schools that work best for children are those led by principals with strong educational leadership, says Joseph Murphy, a national expert in school leadership.

        Knowing this, the state of Ohio created the Ohio Principal Leadership Academy, to offer training and support to new and experienced principals.

        The academy is already training 225 principals enrolled in a two-year program for entry-level leaders. Beginning this month, a program for more seasoned principals will get under way.
        Ken Baker, principal at Wyoming High School, said the academy's services are critical.

        "This kind of service and support just isn't there,” said Mr. Baker, who serves on the group's advisory board. “Yet a strong principal can make a difference with the staff they hire, their ability to facilitate staff needs and make students feel at home. Principals create a school's mission.”

        State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Tave Zelman hired Mr. Murphy to run the leadership academy, which is housed at Ohio State University. He comes to Ohio from Vanderbilt University. As chair of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium, he oversaw the creation of school leadership standards.

        In this day of improving student achievement, principals are expected to be instructional leaders that help teachers boost student performance. At the same time, the principalship is facing a national, and statewide, shortage. Many educators see the job as overwhelming and thankless.

        “The bottom line is there's a real hunger from principals out there for professional development,” Mr. Murphy said. “Usually principals are trained and hired to be managers. High-performing school principals do that but they also act as educational leaders.”

        Such a principal might decide to spend her school's money for teacher training only on programs that advance a school's mission, such as improving reading, even if one teacher might want to attend a math workshop.

        The academy's support comes not only from the Department of Education, but also from businesses. The group's $3.8 million, two-year budget includes $3.6 million from the state and $200,000 in grants from The Limited, Battelle and the Ohio Business Roundtable.

        Richard Stoff, round-table president, said businesses like the academy's plans because it focuses on using tried-and-true practices to create strong leaders.

        “We know the difference one individual leader can make,” Mr. Stoff said. “It's a lonely job. Few principals have that anchor and support.”

        There are 5,000 principals in the state. Outside of programs for new and experienced principals, the academy also plans training for principals in urban districts such as Cincinnati.

        And that's an important element, said Christine Robertson, principal at Cincinnati's Bramble Academy.

        “Principals want to be more than building managers,” Ms. Robertson said. “They have to rethink their role and see themselves as instructional leaders so that everything they do is about improving education.”

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