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 October 2026
A monthly newsletter from the P3 Team
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 A Note from the P3 Team
During National Principals Month, the P3 Team would like to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for all that you do.
Your leadership, dedication and commitment to your students, staff, families and school communities make a lasting difference every day. You play a vital role in creating learning environments where students feel supported, challenged, valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
The impact of your leadership extends far beyond the walls of your schools. Through the decisions you make, the relationships you build, and the opportunities you create, you are enriching the educational experiences and futures of Kentucky’s students.
Thank you for leading with purpose, advocating for your students, supporting your staff and strengthening the communities you serve. We are grateful for your partnership and for the difference you make each day in the lives of students.
Happy National Principals Month! We appreciate you, we celebrate your leadership, and we are thankful for you being all in for students across the Commonwealth.
With gratitude,
The P3 Team ~ Brian, Emily, Jason and Stacy
Celebrating Kentucky's Principals
Tejas Basneth, Principal Scott Loscheider and Saachi Thomas and from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Fayette County)
Hear It From the Students: A Principal Shout-Out
What makes a great principal? Hear it straight from the students!
Two members of the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner's Student Advisory Council – Tejas Basneth and Saachi Thomas from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Fayette County) – share their heartfelt appreciation for their principal, Scott Loscheider.
Monica Daniel
Through a Student’s Eyes: Celebrating a Principal Who Makes a Difference
Hear from KDE Commissioner's Student Advisory Council member Ava June Tackett from Johnson Central High School (Johnson County) as she shares how her principal, Monica Daniel, inspires, supports and makes a difference in the lives of everyone in her school community. It's a heartfelt reminder of the powerful impact principals have every day.
Take a moment to watch Ava June’s meaningful message! Thank you, Principal Daniel!
New Principal Playbook Resource Available Now
School climate and culture are among the most important factors influencing teacher satisfaction, effectiveness and retention. As schools work to recruit and retain highly effective educators, principals play a critical role in creating environments where teachers feel supported, valued and empowered to succeed.
The Principal Playbook: Leadership Moves that Strengthen School Climate was developed to help school leaders understand and apply the practices that foster positive working conditions and strengthen teacher retention.
This playbook combines research on school climate and teacher retention with real-world examples from three Kentucky schools that have demonstrated
strong results on the Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey. Through interviews with the principals of these schools, readers gain insight into the
leadership moves, systems and daily practices that contribute to a positive culture and a strong sense of belonging for educators. These profiles highlight
practical, high-leverage strategies that can be adapted to schools of all sizes and contexts.
In addition to research and practitioner insights, the playbook provides tools to help principals assess their current climate, examine retention trends, identify
areas for growth and develop actionable plans for improvement. Together, these resources are intended to support continuous reflection and intentional
leadership, helping principals create school environments where teachers choose to stay, grow and thrive – ultimately benefiting students, staff and the
broader school community.
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 Upcoming Meeting Dates for the Principals Advisory Council
- Dec. 1
- March 23, 2027
- June 10, 2027
 Mark Your Calendar for 2026-2027 Kentucky Principal Network Meetings
- 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, which is a 6-hour event. More information will be coming soon!
LEADING. . .
CONNECTING. . .
LEARNING. . .
for the Schools of Today and Tomorrow
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.
 KDE Legislative Guidance
Stay informed of non-regulatory guidance on recently enacted legislation by visiting the KDE Legislative Guidance webpage.
FREE Leadership Development Sessions with Mike Rutherford
The Kentucky Leadership Development Program is hosting four professional learning sessions facilitated by Mike Rutherford. Each session has two distinct topics, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, totaling eight professional learning opportunities. You may choose to participate in one or both each day.
The intended audience includes current principals and assistant principals across the Commonwealth. Space is limited.
Sessions will be held on:
– Dec. 16 at Central Bank Center, Lexington, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2:30 p.m. ET;
– Jan. 20, 2027 at Central Bank Center, Lexington, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2:30 p.m. ET;
– Feb. 9, 2027 at Central Bank Center, Lexington, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2:30 p.m. ET; and
– March 4, 2027 at Northeast Christian Church, 990 Star Shoot Parkway, Lexington, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2:30 p.m. ET.
For more details about the sessions, see the Kentucky Leadership Development Program flyer.
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 Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort to Meet Oct. 22
October Focus Points:
- Tapping Into Your Greatness as a Continuous Learner
- Providing Feedback to Maximize Impact
- Embedding Support
Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with other assistant principals across the Commonwealth, build your professional capacity with respect to PSEL, and share ideas that have proven to work.
Mark Your Calendar for all Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort Meetings
- Oct. 22
- Nov. 17
- Dec. 9
- Jan. 21
- Feb. 17 (1:30 ET only)
- March 16
Monthly virtual meetings will be 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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N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E. School Leadership
As the school principal, you’re managing a lot.
Instruction. Behavior. Staffing. Operations. Your people. Your own leadership.
N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E. was created to help you bring those systems together without adding another initiative to your plate.
N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E. is a free leadership resource created by school leaders for school leaders. It gives you practical tools, ideas and entry points for the work you’re already doing.
Inside, you’ll find systems focused on:
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Needs-Based Wellness: Support your own sustainability and the well-being of your staff and students.
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Agreements and Accountability: Create clear expectations, strengthen follow-through and build consistency across your school.
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Vision-Aligned Academics: Connect standards, assessment and instruction so your vision is visible in every classroom.
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Targeted Behavior Supports: Build calm, predictable, instructional environments and strengthen proactive behavior practices.
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Administrative and Operational: Tackle the systems underneath everything else, from scheduling and staffing to safety, technology, SBDM and building operations.
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Grow Leadership: Develop leadership throughout your school by growing yourself, others, teams and future leaders.
The systems are designed to help you start where you are. You don't have to tackle everything at once. Choose the system that connects to the work in front of you, explore a tool, and see what might help.
Every Student. Every System. In Sync.
Explore N.A.V.I.G.A.T.E.
This resource is free and designed to support the important work you’re already leading.
With you in leadership,
Keith Griesser, Scott County Schools
David Young, Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC)
Liz Erwin and Kelly Odell, Kentucky Association of School Councils (KASC)
 2026 Certified Evaulation Update Training Hosted by Green River Regional Educational Cooperative in Bowling Green
Last Chance to Register for 2026-2027 In-Person P3 Certified Evaluation Training Sessions
The Principal Partnership Project (P3) team is offering 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:
- 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:
- 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:
Virtual training times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET, with 1 hour of required asynchronous pre-work.
Visit the Kentucky Learning Hub and the Principal Calendar for more professional learning opportunities.
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