Lead Boldly. Grow Together.
A cohort-based fellowship for outstanding Cincinnati principals committed to transformative school leadership.
Applications for the 2026–27 cohort are now closed.
About the Fellowship
A year of growth.
A network that lasts.
The Accelerate Principal Fellowship brings together a select cohort of exceptional school leaders for a year of professional growth, cross-school connection, and real leadership development. This will be a dynamic experience built around hands-on leadership labs, real-time school visits, peer coaching, and a capstone project tied directly to a challenge that matters in your school.
What makes this different: your nominated teachers are in a connected fellowship at the same time. You're not just developing as an individual leader — you're building alignment between leadership and instruction, strengthening your school's collective capacity, and driving meaningful change in teaching and student outcomes together.
Selective Cohort
Up to 10 principals, intentionally selected. Small enough for trust and candor. Big enough for diversity of perspective.
10 Sessions, September–May
Monthly, 8:00 AM–12:30 PM, in-person. October is a full-day school visit. April is virtual. Lunch provided every session.
Fully Funded
Fully funded, year-long fellowship offered at no cost to you.
A Typical Session
Every session connects directly to your school.
No abstract frameworks in a vacuum. Every session is anchored in your real work — your data, your teachers, your capstone challenge.
Between sessions, fellows engage in school-based work aligned to their 2026–27 student outcome goals — collaborating with select teachers, collecting evidence of impact, and continuously refining the work.
Session Dates
Full day · School Visit
Virtual
Celebration
Sample Agenda — Principal Session
Focus: Uncovering root causes and identifying high-leverage strategies
Opening + Teaming
Ground in shared norms, connect to the improvement arc, and set intentions for the session.
New Learning + Content Engagement
Explore a high-leverage leadership concept through direct instruction, case study, and structured discussion grounded in your school context.
Data Lab + Sensemaking
Analyze student or school data connected to your action project focus. Identify patterns, pressure-test assumptions, and distinguish root causes from symptoms.
Planning + Peer Consultation
Bring your current improvement challenge and receive structured peer feedback. Refine your next steps with colleagues doing parallel work.
Working Lunch + Synthesis
Eat together while sharing key takeaways across the cohort. Name one commitment to carry into your school before the next session.
What Fellows Build
Six domains. Practical skills. Real impact.
Tap any domain to see what you'll actually develop over the course of the year.
Who Should Apply
This is for leaders who are ready.
Sitting principals from Cincinnati schools — public, charter, and catholic — committed to continuous growth and citywide collaboration.
✓Fellows who thrive
- →Looking to make concrete changes that will have immediate student impact
- →Willing to take risks and try new approaches
- →Focused on developing staff capacity — thinking as a leader, not just solving problems
- →Ready to engage collaboratively, contributing to and learning from peers
- →Able to prioritize and protect time for consistent participation
- →Open to reflection and feedback
–Not the right moment if you're…
- →Reluctant to examine your own leadership
- →In a season where urgent demands make sustained participation unrealistic
- →Looking for quick fixes rather than deep reflection and growth
- →Unclear on your school and student impact goals
Supervisor support required. Your supervisor will need to understand the program purpose and time commitment, provide a recommendation, and confirm approval for your full engagement — including protecting your time and prioritizing attendance.
How to Apply
Ready to lead at a different level?
The application opens May 1 and closes July 31. Set aside 45–60 minutes in a quiet moment. Decisions are sent August 7.
Opens
May 1
Closes
Jul 31
Decisions
Aug 7
Time
45–60 min
Applications for the 2026–27 cohort are now closed.
Questions? acceleratecincinnati@leadershipacademy.org
The Application Covers
Basic info + resume — contact details, years of experience
Your 3–5 year ambitions, current leadership strengths, and how you're actively developing them
Where you're experiencing the most stretch or friction — and what might get in the way of full participation
The unique experiences or viewpoints you bring and how you'll contribute to the cohort
Why now is the right time, what you hope will change in your practice and school, and confirmation of full commitment