As the hallways begin to fill and a new school year unfolds, I'm reminded that strong starts matter. The first days of school set the tone, as they create the conditions for trust, learning, and momentum. Thank you for the care, preparation, and leadership you've poured into getting your school community ready for this new year. As you open your doors next week, know that we're grateful for your leadership and honored to partner with you in the important work ahead.

Cultivation reminds us that meaningful growth rarely happens overnight. It requires intentional preparation, consistent care, thoughtful reflection, and a long-term commitment to developing people and strengthening systems. This year, we invite you to join the Principals Center as we focus on Cultivating What Matters Most: the relationships, instructional practices, leadership capacity, and resilient systems that create the conditions for every school community to flourish.

As you begin this new year, we invite you to grow alongside a community of leaders committed to learning, leading, and making a lasting impact. Our #CultivatEDleaders Cohort Series is designed to strengthen your leadership, expand your network, and equip you with practical strategies you can put into action immediately. Please explore this year's opportunities below.

We're also excited to welcome back one of our most requested Toolbox learning experiences, FTE 101: Best Practices, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Whether you're new to FTE or looking to sharpen your knowledge, this session offers timely guidance and practical tools to help your team succeed. Registration details are below.

The work ahead is significant, and so is the opportunity. We're honored to be your partner as you cultivate what matters most.

Crafting solutions,

Dionne Cowan, Ed.D.

Executive Director, Principals Center

Clinical Assistant Professor

Signature Programming

for 2026–2027

Cohort Series

Registration is NOW OPEN for seven dynamic leadership cohorts, each designed to help you cultivate what matters most by building community, expanding your leadership capacity, and supporting school improvement in ways that are both strategic and sustainable:

1. Principals Instructional Leadership Academy
2. Principals Organizational Leadership Academy
3. Leadership Legacy Lab
4. Seminar for Assistant Principals
5. Instructional Coaches Collaborative
6. Aspiring Principals Institute
7. Aspiring Leaders Institute for Teacher Leaders

📍 Special Note: Additionally, we're excited to host the Instructional Leadership Academy at our Principals Center Satellite Site in partnership with Bibb County School District (Macon, GA) beginning on September 17, 2026.

🧰 Kicking Off the Year: Toolbox Series

FTE Advantage | Two-Day Intensive

📅 Wednesday, August 26, 2026 and

📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026

📍 Location TBA | Atlanta, GA

⏰ 9 am - 3:30 pm

Session Description:

Do you understand Georgia’s full-time equivalent (FTE) funding formula? Are you losing students but want to retain as many teachers as possible? Are you confident that your school schedule ensures full funding from the state?

This dynamic, two-day intensive is designed to answer these critical questions—and many more. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of FTE, engage with real-world scenarios, and receive expert insight from human resources specialists with over 50 years of combined experience.

This learning experience is specifically curated for school leadership teams. When you register you will be signed up for both days of the intensive.