Carol Hallquist spent 2016 developing her business plan to support schools at Harvard as part of the Advanced Leadership Initiative, but it wasn’t until she held focus groups with over 120 Kansas City teachers, principals, students, parents, school board members and community leaders that she developed a focus—principals. From students, to education college deans, every group told her great principals were the driving force behind student achievement. 

A strong school principal can overcome many obstacles and create a rich, successful learning and teaching environment. Great principal leadership is the #1 reason talented teachers stay at well run schools. It was then clear that principals would be the focus.