Great schools require great leaders. School leaders flourish under great system-level leadership. Designed and implemented in collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), the Aspiring Assistant Superintendent Academy (AASA) identifies, supports, and develops current SDP principals who demonstrate high potential and desire to become future SDP principal supervisors (Assistant Superintendents). In doing so, AASA will develop the district’s talent bench and increase the effectiveness of future principal supervisors.

During the intensive year-long program, participants remain in their current principal roles while participating in activities that build the critical skills needed to transition to be effective SDP principal supervisors. Specifically, the program builds participant capacity in:

• Executive Leadership
• Principal Capacity Development
• Principal Talent Management
• Standards-Based Leadership

Program Components

Over the course of one year, Aspiring Assistant Superintendent Academy participants:

• Participate in monthly in-person development sessions led by expert faculty
• Coach another principal through the Performance Partners Program
• Serve in a peer leadership role within his/her school’s Learning Network
• Engage in monthly individualized executive coaching
• Learn from current School District of Philadelphia Assistant Superintendents via job shadowing and joint development sessions
• Attend the National Standards Institute to build skills in the Common Core State Standards and associated instructional shifts
• Join a cohort of exceptional SDP principals pursuing system leadership

Selection Process

Participants are selected through a rigorous application and interview process grounded in the national Model Principal Supervisor Standards. Applicants must be School District of Philadelphia principals or central office administrators with prior principal experience. In addition, participants must possess or be willing to obtain a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility.

2019-2020 Aspiring Assistant Superintendent Academy Participants

Christine Borelli – Benjamin Franklin High School

Michael Calderone – Frankford High School

Natalie Catin St. Louis – Nebinger Elementary

Toni Damon – Murrell Dobbins CTE High School

Ted Domers – G.W. Carver High School of Engineering and Science

Shakae Dupre – Middle Years Alternative

Tamara Edwards – Thomas K. Finletter

Luke Hostetter – C.C.A. Baldi Middle School

Andrew Lukov – Southwark School

Shakeera Warthen – F. Amedee Bregy School