April 2026

A monthly newsletter from the P3 Team

2025 Certified Evaluation Update Training at the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative

Registration is Now Open for 2026-2027 Certified Evaluation Training Opportunities

The Principal Partnership Project (P3) Team is offering multiple in-person and virtual opportunities to complete the 12-hour Initial Certified Evaluation training and the 6-hour Certified Evaluation Update training. Choose the date and location that works best for you. 

All Certified Evaluation trainings offered by the P3 Team are free of charge, and EILA will be awarded for completing all training requirements.  

Initial Certified Evaluation Training

All NEW EVALUATORS must attend this 2-day, 12-hour EILA credit training, per 704 KAR 3:370 and KRS 156.557 and pass the corresponding assessment.

This training is for NEW evaluators of certified personnel only. Initial Certified Evaluation may be obtained virtually OR in person. Training sessions often fill up quickly. If the training date you select fills prior to your registration, you will receive a separate email within a few days asking for your second choice. 

In-Person Initial Certified Evaluation Training Dates and Locations:

• July 9-10: West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, Eddyville
• July 15-16: Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative, Hazard
• Aug. 4-5: Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Shelbyville
• Aug. 18-19: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, Lexington
• Sept. 9-10: Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, Bowling Green
• Sept. 22-23: Southeast/South-Central Educational Cooperative, London
• Oct. 20-21: Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Shelbyville
• Oct. 27-28: Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative, Lexington

In-person training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. local time.

Virtual Initial Certified Evaluation Training Dates:

• Nov. 18-19
• Jan. 6-7, 2027
• Feb. 10-11, 2027

Virtual training times are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ET. 

Certified Evaluation UPDATE Training

The 6-hour P3 Certified Evaluation UPDATE training meets the requirements outlined in 704 KAR 3:370 and KRS 156.557 that all EXPERIENCED EVALUATORS must attend a 6-hour EILA-approved training, annually.

This training is for evaluators of certified personnel who have already completed the 12-hour Initial Certified Evaluation training. The P3 Certified Evaluation Update training may be obtained virtually or in person. Both training options are newly designed for 2026-2027.

Training sessions often fill up quickly. If the training date you select fills prior to your registration, you will receive a separate email within a few days asking for your second choice. 

In-Person Update Training Dates and Locations:

• July 8: West Kentucky Educational Cooperative EDFEST, Paducah*
• July 14: Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Shelbyville
• July 22: Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative, Hazard
• July 27: Logan County Career and Technical Center, Russellville**
• Sept. 1: West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, Eddyville
• Sept. 15: Southeast/South-Central Educational Cooperative, London
• Sept. 29: Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, Bowling Green
• Oct. 15: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, Lexington

In-person training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. local time with 1 hour of required asynchronous pre-work, unless otherwise noted below.  

* EDFEST Update track includes 2 hour pre-work/4 hour in-person.

** Logan County CTC includes all 6 hours in-person 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CT (no pre-work requirement).

Virtual Update Training Dates:

• June 15
• June 22
• July 17
• July 20
• Aug. 25
• Nov. 3

Virtual training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET with 1 hour of required asynchronous pre-work. 

The Principal Calendar: April

KASS Bill Tracking

Stay informed of important legislative activity with this KASS Bill Tracking Document from Casey County Schools Superintendent Barry Lee.

Explore N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E 

Visit the N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E website. Try one tool. Start where you are.

• Needs-Based Wellness
• Agreements and Accountability
• Vision-Aligned Academics
• Targeted Behavior Supports

To learn more and how to access the resources, watch this short N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E. video!

P3 EdCamp Recordings and Materials Available

If you were unable to attend EdCamp but wish you could have engaged in the learning, you are in luck!  Participant materials and breakout session video links have been added to the grid.

Teacher Retention Tracking Tool Updates

The Teacher Retention Tracking Tool available to principals now includes the recently released Impact KY Survey state results with space for principals to input their school data. We encourage all principals to try out the retention tool.

The electronic tool, developed by KDE, is designed to help principals easily calculate and track teacher retention data. This tool allows you to monitor how many teachers leave your school each year and the reasons behind their departure.

Research continues to show that the school principal plays one of the most significant roles in teacher retention. Strong, supportive leadership can make the difference between keeping great teachers and facing the constant challenge of replacing them.

With the growing need to retain skilled educators, this tool offers principals a practical way to understand local trends and take informed steps toward building a more stable, thriving school team.

Partnering for Growth, Leading for Impact

New Impact Kentucky Survey Analysis Tool Available The P3 Team, with input from the Commissioner's Principals Advisory Council, has developed a new Impact Kentucky Survey Analysis Tool for principals and school leadership teams.   How might you use the tool to turn insight into action? Choose aspects of the tool that are useful to your school. Analyze survey data independently and with your school leadership team. Identify priority areas for improvement and growth. Share key analysis takeaways and your goals with teachers. Invite committees and/or teachers to join you in strategic action-planning. Create conditions for meaningful improvement and implement your plans.  Embed periodic check-ins to monitor progress. Why is this work so important? Educator working conditions shape:  Teacher retention and recruitment; School culture and collaboration; and Instructional quality and student outcomes. Adapt the tool and questions to meet your needs. By translating your survey insights into focused, strategic actions today, you are taking the first step toward elevating adult well-being and building a culture where educators thrive.   The 2025-2026 Impact KY Survey results are available for review at www.impactky.org. Log in with Google for the best experience. Please contact Elly Gilbert with questions or assistance with the survey.

Spring is the Perfect Time to Strengthen Behavior Systems

Two weeks ago, we shared the launch of the Targeted Behavior Supports system. By now, you may be noticing the usual springtime challenges: students and staff are tired, routines get a little loose and behavior issues can spike.

This is actually the perfect time to start implementing the system. Spring is ideal for ironing out wrinkles in your routines and building alignment across your staff, setting your school up for a smooth, strong start in the fall.

Starting now allows you to:

• Test Tier 1 supports in classrooms and common areas while students are still familiar with routines;
• Identify gaps and refine adult practices before the next school year; and
• Use the system’s data tools to catch trends early and make small adjustments that prevent big problems later.

Taking these steps in the spring helps your staff feel supported and prepared – and keeps students learning in calm, predictable environments.

Explore the Targeted Behavior Supports System of N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E.

Spring isn’t just a season – it’s an opportunity. Let’s use it to strengthen your school’s behavior systems and set everyone up for success.

With you in leadership,

KDE's Principal Partnership Project (P3)
Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative
Kentucky Association of School Councils

2025 Assisant Principal Kick-Off Event at the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative

2026-2027 Assistant Principal Cohort Kick-Off Set for July 23 at the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC)

Calling all Kentucky assistant principals! The P3 Team is excited to announce that the Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort will continue for a fourth year. This cohort is designed to build the leadership capacity of assistant principals across the Commonwealth, while providing an avenue for networking and idea sharing.  

Mark your calendar for the in-person kick-off event on July 23 at KVEC in Hazard.

There is no cost for this 6-hour event, and EILA credit will be available. More information, along with a registration link, will be coming in the May P3 newsletter.

New Resource Available for School Leaders A new resource for educational leaders is shedding light on the complex, human work of leading school systems through change. "Navigating Change: The Educational Journeys of School Superintendents" explores the realities of district leadership across Kentucky, offering a compelling collection of authentic superintendent voices. Organized around seven essential leadership dimensions – Strategic, Instructional, Cultural, Human Resource, Managerial, Collaborative and Influential Leadership – the book brings each concept to life through real stories written by Kentucky superintendents who began their careers as school principals, as well as contributing members of the University Principal Preparation Initiative. Representing rural, urban, small and large districts, these authors offer firsthand perspectives that ground theory in lived experience.

Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference

The third annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference will take place at The Galt House in Louisville beginning on June 8, with afternoon breakout sessions following registration. The conference continues on June 9, with a welcome, keynote address, additional breakout sessions and opportunities to engage with vendors and attendees.

Highlights include:

• Multiple breakout sessions across both days;
• A featured welcome and keynote on Tuesday morning;
• Dedicated time for networking and Vendor Hall Experience; and
• Lunch will be provided, and structured transition times are built into the schedule.

A full Schedule at a Glance is available for review and planning purposes.

Additional details regarding conference registration and session descriptions will be shared in the coming months.

Hotel Information

A hotel room block at the Galt House is available for conference attendees at a special group rate. Rooms must be reserved by May 8 to receive the discounted rate. We encourage interested participants to book early, as availability is limited. The conference hotel booking link for conference participants is available at Kentucky Division of Education Division of Early Literacy - Start your reservation.

Mark your calendar now and watch for additional details regarding free registration for Kentucky K-12 public school educators and session descriptions coming soon!

Safe Schools and Communities Conference June 9-10, Great Crossing High School, Georgetown

The two-day Safe Schools and Communities Conference, featuring keynote speakers Scott Poland and Michelle Gay, is free of charge and is open to principals, law enforcement officers, school administrators, safe schools coordinators, directors of pupil personnel and school personnel.  Join us with keynote speakers Scott Poland and Michelle Gay.

Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendance at this conference includes membership in the Kentucky Association of School Resource Officers and the Kentucky DARE Association for law enforcement participants. EILA credit is pending for educators. 

2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit

Sept. 21-22, Central Bank Center, Lexington

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia invite you to a two-day event designed to elevate your impact in education. Mark your calendars to attend the 2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 21-22 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your professional learning, strengthen existing relationships or tackle unique challenges with fresh strategies, this conference is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to spark new ideas, gain insights from KDE leaders and join Kentucky’s continuous improvement movement!

Registration details will be shared in an upcoming message, so please stay tuned!

Visit the Kentucky Learning Hub and the Principal Calendar for more professional learning opportunities.