This past Saturday, the Archdiocese of Baltimore in partnership with Loyola University, Mount St. Mary’s University, and Notre Dame of Maryland University, graduated its first cohort of the Principal Leadership Institute for Advanced Studies (PLIAS). The professional development program for principals and assistant principals addresses a key focus of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools which issued a report in June 2010 aimed at strengthening Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The report cited the professional development of its school leaders as a key recommendation.
“The Principal Leadership Institute was uniquely designed for Catholic school administrators to develop visionary leadership and advance the mission of Catholic education,” Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson said. “Leadership has a direct impact on virtually every aspect of a school. We have so many outstanding principals and assistant principals and this program will make sure that our Catholic schools remain the best value in private education in Maryland.”
The certified program takes two years to complete and focuses on areas such as Instructional Leadership, Finance and Marketing, and Human Resource Management. The inaugural class includes eight principals and assistant principals from the following schools: Immaculate Conception (Towson), Immaculate Heart of Mary (Towson), St. John Regional (Frederick), St. Michael (Overlea), St. Pius X (Towson), Resurrection-St. Paul (Ellicott City) and St. Stephen (Bradshaw).
The second class is planned to begin in the spring of 2013.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic schools provide an academically excellent, Christ-centered education that empowers students to reach their full potential. For more information about our schools, please call 1-800-5-Catholic or visit www.archbalt.org.