The PrincipalsConnect Story

How PrincipalsConnect Began

Woman in red blazer standing next to a presentation board in a classroom or conference room

Carol Hallquist served on several education-focused nonprofit boards before she retired from a three-decade career at Hallmark Cards, Inc. She found that she missed her professional community and had a desire to make a difference in her community. Carol realized that there were many others who 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 PrincipalsConnect Advisers and three principals in the Kansas City Public School District.

What PrincipalsConnect Does

Group of five women standing inside a room, smiling, holding large bags of food and a framed food drive poster.

PrincipalsConnect recruits and supports retired professionals who volunteer to serve urban school principals. We attract professionals who are well-connected in the KC community and have a passion for urban education.

Volunteers, or advisers, provide help with human resources, project management and many other areas.  Volunteers have flexibility in the hours they work and principals have the ability to select a PrinicipalsConnect adviser when and where they need them. 

At PrincipalsConnect, we believe that retired and semi-retired professionals who are involved with urban schools can advocate for resources and positive change. PrincipalsConnect advisers have the experience, empathy and passion to inspire collective action, providing positive change in our schools.

How It Works

There is no single program that gives urban school principals access to free professional assistance when and where they need it. PrincipalsConnect has stepped in to fill that gap. Led by principal priorities, our team is able to focus on what each individual school needs to be successful.

For example, PrincipalsConnect advisers can help create and lead team building sessions for the principal and his/her staff or help find resources for school projects. Principals get the assistance they want and retirees get the satisfaction of using their skills to help school leaders connect to resources, provide emotional support.

“Seeing members of our community engaging with our teachers is truly inspiring.”

KC Teacher
UMKC Research Survey Open Response