Thirty school leaders from the Kansas City area will receive leadership training later this year through the Missouri Leadership for Excellence, Achievement and Development (MoLEAD) program.

The Edward Swinney Trust Grant will provide selected educators from the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City (CSDGKC) the opportunity to participate in the 26-day training program that works to enhance leadership skills among school leaders.

“The partnership between the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City (CSDGKC), Edward Swinney Trust Grant and MoLEAD is an excellent example of how collaborative efforts between school districts and community groups can have  a positive impact on schools,” said Pam Hedgpeth, State Coordinator for the National Institute for School Leadership.

MoLEAD combines online and face-to-face training with mentoring opportunities to enhance best practices in schools. It emphasizes the role of principals as strategic thinkers, instructional leaders and creators of a just, fair and caring culture in which all students meet high standards. It ensures that school leaders can competently and effectively set directions for teachers. More than 400 school leaders have participated in the program since its inception.

“Supporting the leadership capacity of school leaders through this training will have a positive effect on the learning opportunities for the thousands of children these principals serve," said Hedgpeth.

The $190,000 grant is designed to provide research-based professional development for school leaders in the Kansas City area. The CSDGKC includes school districts from Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties.

“This grant will provide a valuable and timely opportunity for the principals of our districts to participate in very high-quality training in the supervision of instruction," said Dr. Gayden Carruth, CSDGKC Executive Director.

The Grant is from the Edward F. Swinney Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

For more information contact the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City at 816-753-7275.

One of the Department’s goals for the Top 10 by 20 initiative is to prepare, develop and support effective educators. Top 10 by 20 calls for Missouri to be one of the top 10 states for education by 2020.