Relay National Principal Academy Fellowship

Investing in Indianapolis school leaders

The Mind Trust partners with the Relay Graduate School of Education to sponsor an instructional leadership program for Indianapolis school leaders to help them excel as instructional and cultural leaders. Since 2017, 128 Indianapolis school administrators have participated in Relay school leader fellowships with support from the Fairbanks Foundation and The Mind Trust.

“The National Principals Academy Fellowship puts us in a cohort of like-minded educators, allowing us to practice important skills, receive targeted feedback, and take those skills back to our building to raise the level of instruction our students receive every day.” 

Gabriel Surface, Director of Academics at Invent Learning Hub

Relay’s National Principals Academy Fellowship is a nationally-recognized training program that attracts current and future school leaders from across the country.

This one-year program begins with a summer intensive and continues with four intersessions throughout the school year, during which participants focus on Relay’s key instructional pillars:

• Observation and feedback
• Data-driven instruction
• Positive student culture of high expectations
• Adult professional development
• Instructional planning
• Aligned staff culture and strategic leadership.

Participants leave with the confidence and tools to take their leadership to the next level, support and develop teachers in meaningful and intentional ways, and ultimately move the needle on student growth.

Participant Requirements

Interested applicants must hold full-time leadership positions within a school or school network – such as principal supervisor, principal, assistant principal, department head, instructional coach, or lead teacher. Applicants may be employed at any public school in Indianapolis, including those outside of Center Township.

We strongly encourage cohorts of leaders from the same school or network to apply as a team to increase the impact on their students. Where applicable, application teams that include a strong principal manager who has the ability to influence leaders across multiple locations may strengthen the overall application.

Applicants should display:

• Motivation and work ethic to continue refining their craft as a leader;
• Openness to learning new leadership strategies and to immediate feedback during practice sessions; and
• A strong sense of personal responsibility and belief as it pertains to student learning.

Application & selection

The Mind Trust manages the application and selection process for Indianapolis school leaders in partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education. Click here to start or continue your application.

Important Dates for Cohort 6 application:

January 14, 2022: Application opens

February 11, 2022: Application closes

If you have any questions concerning Relay’s National Principals Academy Fellowship, please contact Tina Seymour, Senior Director of School Support.