 Kentucky Principal Leadership Development Program Listening Sessions
The Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Continuous Improvement and Support is hosting three regional Principal Listening Sessions.
Purpose:
These sessions are designed to help shape the future of principal leadership in Kentucky. Your insights on the knowledge, skills and support new principals need will directly inform the design of a statewide leadership development program.
Audience:
- Superintendents and District Staff
- Principals and Assistant Principals
- Regional Cooperative Staff
- Higher Education Representatives
- Legislators
- K Groups and Other Partners
Listening Sessions:
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Sept. 14: Embassy Suites, 556 Hub Blvd., Bowling Green, 9 a.m.-noon CT
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Sept. 15: Marriott Lexington Downtown, 121 W. Vine St., Lexington, 9 a.m.-noon ET
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Sept. 16: Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative, 412 Roy Campbell Drive, Hazard, 9 a.m.-noon ET
Participants are strongly encouraged to register for listening sessions. Contact Nick Pannell with questions.
 Kentucky Principal Network to Meet Sept. 11
The P3 Team and educational cooperative leaders across the state are joining forces to continue the Kentucky Principal Network in 2026-2027. This collaborative support is designed for principals and assistant principals to learn, problem solve and collaborate with other leaders to hear and explore fresh ideas about real-world challenges principals face.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network and collaborate with other school leaders across the state (without leaving your building). Stay connected with roundtable topics, leveled discussions and problem solving.
Kentucky Principal Network opportunities are 100% free, and EILA credit will be available.
Mark Your Calendar for 2025-2026 Kentucky Principal Network Meetings
- Sept. 11
- Nov. 6
- Jan. 13, 2027 (EdCamp 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET)
- March 12, 2027
*All meetings will be held virtually from 9 a.m.-noon. ET, except EdCamp.
LEADING. . .
CONNECTING. . .
LEARNING. . .
for the Schools of Today and Tomorrow
September Topics:
- Crisis Response
- Impact KY Data
- Legislative Update
November Topics:
- New Assessment and Accountability Systems
- Attendance in Accountability
- Supports for New Principals (SB 4)
View the Kentucky Principal Network flyer for more information.
Remembering September 11: 25 Years Later
Sept. 11, 2026, marks 25 years since the events of September 11, 2001 – a day that changed our nation and is still remembered vividly by many of us. For today’s students, September 11 is history, but for many of the adults in our schools, it is a memory we carry with us.
As school leaders, we have an opportunity to help our students understand not only what happened that day, but also the courage, compassion, service and resilience that emerged in the days and weeks that followed. These moments remind us of the important role schools play in helping young people make sense of difficult events, learn from our history and recognize the strength that can come from community and caring for one another.
Resources for Educators:
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Commissioner's Principals Advisory Council to Meet on Sept. 17
The Commissioner’s Principal Advisory Council (PrAC) will meet virtually at 10 a.m. ET on Sept.17.
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The purpose of PrAC is to provide direct input to Kentucky’s commissioner about important issues in Kentucky's schools. The goal of the council is to ensure excellent teaching and learning is happening in every classroom in every Kentucky school.
Principals are invited to watch the PrAC meetings live or access them on demand. School leaders are always encouraged to reach out to PrAC representatives to let your voice be heard as well. Visit KDE's PrAC webpage to access agendas, meeting summaries and recordings.
Upcoming Meeting Dates for Principals Advisory Council
- Sept. 17
- Dec. 1
- March 23, 2027
- June 10, 2027
Joe Sanfelippo to Lead September KY Assistant Principal Cohort Meeting
All assistant principals are invited to attend the Sept. 24 meeting of the Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort at 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET, featuring author Joe Sanfelippo.
Sanfelippo recently retired after spending the last 26 years in the building and the final 12 as the superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, Wisc. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District by the International Center for Leadership in Education twice during that time.
Sanfelippo holds a bachelor's in elementary and early childhood Education, a master's in educational psychology, a master's in educational leadership, and a doctorate in leadership, learning and service. He was selected as one of 117 Future Ready Superintendents and one of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader by the U.S. Department of Education.
Education Dive named Sanfelippo their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019. He started the #1minwalk2work Leadership Challenge and has authored multiple books.
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Mark your calendar for the AP Cohort Zoom Meeting Dates:
- Sept. 24 (9:30 a.m. ET only)
- Oct. 22
- Nov. 17
- Dec. 9
- Jan. 21
- Feb. 17 (1:30 p.m. ET only)
- March 16
*Monthly virtual meetings are from 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET and 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET on the Zoom platform. Choose the time that works best for your schedule.
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There is no cost to participate in the Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort activities, and EILA credit will be available.
Everyone who attends at least one Assistant Principal Cohort meeting in 2026-2027 will receive a free copy of "What Makes a Great Principal: The Five Pillars of Effective School Leadership" by George Couros and Allyson Apsey!
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 2026 Certified Evaulation Update Training Hosted by Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative in Shelbyville
Register Now for 2026-2027 P3 Certified Evaluation Training
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. Please share training information with new school leaders so they can secure a spot as soon as possible.
In-Person Initial Certified Evaluation Training Dates and Locations:
- 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 the 2026-2027 school year.
Training sessions often fill up quickly. Register now to secure your spot!
In-Person Update Training Dates and Locations:
- Sept. 15: Southeast/South-Central Educational Cooperative, London
- Sept. 29: Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, Bowling Green
- Oct. 15: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, Lexington
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In-person training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. local time, with 1 hour of required asynchronous pre-work.
All in-person participants will receive a copy of "The IC Toolkit," a book packed with tools that school leaders and instructional coaches can use in a variety of ways to become highly proficient in the Seven Success Factors from Jim Knight's research.
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Virtual Update Training Dates:
- Sept. 4
- Sept. 14
- Oct. 13
- Nov. 3
Virtual training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET, with 1 hour of required asynchronous pre-work.
 Leadership Moves That Strengthen School Climate
The Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey offers valuable insight into your school’s culture. KDE is gathering examples of how principals are using this data to support staff and strengthen their schools.
Our team is developing a statewide toolkit for principals and we would appreciate learning how you focus on strengthening school culture and supporting educator well-being in your building.
You can share through a brief form or a short call – whatever works best.
Thank you for your leadership and support of positive working conditions.
Elly Gilbert
Assistant Director
Division of Educator Recruitment and Development
KDE's Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness
'Navigating Change' Resource Available for School Leaders
A new resource for education 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.
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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!
Mike Rutherford, 2026 Continuous Improvement Summit keynote, will engage participants with conversations on high-performance teaching and learning, leadership development, creating and leading team-based organizations and results-based organizational improvement.
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! Visit the 2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit registration webpage to register.
Visit the Kentucky Learning Hub and the Principal Calendar for more professional learning opportunities.
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