How PrincipalsConnect Came to Be
As a longtime resident of Kansas City with a deep connection to the educational system, Carol Hallquist observed the challenges of running a public school in urban Kansas City. She learned that principals have a wide variety of demands placed on them and would appreciate outside, confidential support. At the same time, Carol retired from a three-decade career at Hallmark and found that her need for professional community and her desire to share her business expertise were not being met. Carol also realized that other retired professionals felt the same way.
Hallquist spent 2016 developing her plan 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.
PrincipalsConnect launched in September 2017 with six PC Advisers and three principals in the Kansas City Public School District.
