School and district leaders create and sustain environments that inspire students to pursue their passions and reach their potential. That's why leadership is a central component of City Schools' blueprint for success, and why the district's contract with the Public School Administrators and Supervisors Association (PSASA) includes career pathways that encourage leaders to strengthen their impact while advancing their careers. 

Administrators move from the initial, standard pathway to the professional pathway through performance evaluations and by earning leadership units. 

This pathway recognizes school leaders who demonstrate a transformative impact on the lives and learning experiences of students, teachers, partners, and school communities. The Transformational Principal Pathway allows opportunities to support their peers and the larger district. In addition to leading their schools, Transformational Principals service may include:

• Participating in annual school leader assessment centers 

• Mentoring activities  

• Professional development activities 

• Learning site activities  

• Policy implementation activities  

• Other approved Principal-created activities

To move from the professional to transformational pathway, a principal must be able to provide evidence of impact in the same school for the past three years and have:

• Three consecutive years of effective or highly effective ratings on annual performance evaluations

• No Performance Improvement Plan in place

• No substantiated labor relations issue in the past five years

The PSASA Joint Governing Panel notifies eligible candidates prior to the application period's opening. This allows those principals to review their expectations of the role and decide whether to apply. Principals on the Standard Pathway are not yet eligible to apply for the Transformational Pathway Movement.

Eligible principals indicate their interest and are enrolled in an online course. The submission process is aligned with the district's leadership framework and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. In order to better center student impact, reduce barriers, and increase transparency, the application process for Transformational Principal designation evolved in SY 2023-24 so that: 

• There is one Domain, with two indicators, which focus on Academic Growth  

• Candidates must demonstrate measurable, sustained impact during at least three years while at the same school  

• Rather than creating a full portfolio, candidates will reflect upon data provided to them

Resources to download:

• Transformational Pathway Application Guidance 

• Transformational Principal Pathway Rubric

After the committee application review, successful candidates are notified that they will be placed on the Transformational Pathway effective July 1 of the next school year. Transformational status is reviewed every three years.

Distinguished Principals

The Distinguished Principal pathway recognizes exemplary leadership achievements and offers avenues for continued leadership excellence and mentorship within the education community.

To move from the transformational to a distinguished pathway, a principal must have:

• Received effective or highly effective rating on annual performance evaluations over the past three years as a school leader, with at least one highly effective annual rating

• No Performance Improvement Plan in place

• No substantiated labor relations issues in the past five years

The PSASA Joint Governing Panel notifies eligible candidates prior to the application period's opening. This allows those principals to review the role's expectations and decide whether to apply. Principals on the Standard or Professional Pathways are not yet eligible to apply for the Distinguished Pathway Movement.

Eligible principals indicate their interest in interviewing for movement to the Distinguished Pathway and identify the service path which they would pursue as part of their Distinguished designation. This may include:

• Leadership of a Cabinet-sponsored initiative 

• Leadership of a principal-sponsored initiative  

• Multi-school leadership, where applicable

The application process centers on a panel interview, where principals will reflect upon:

1. Their impact on student success, 

2. The leadership capacity they’ve developed in their school community to maintain success for students, 

3. Their ability to attract resources and mobilize communities, and

4. The alignment of their experience and skillsets with the needs of the initiative that they would lead as a Distinguished Principal.

After the committee application review, successful candidates are notified that they will be placed on the Distinguished Pathway effective July 1 of the next school year. Distinguished status is reviewed every three years.

Distinguished Administrators

The success of our students and our schools is directly impacted by the structures, support, and culture created by district office leaders. District office administrators’ leadership impacts stakeholders across the district and throughout our school communities. Distinguished District Administrators work with the district and lead additional activities designed to further create and sustain growth across City Schools via:

•  Professional Development activities

•  Innovation and Best Practice activities, or

• Advisory and Ambassadorship activities

To move from the professional to distinguished pathway, a district administrator must be able to provide evidence of impact in the same role for the past three years and have

• Three consecutive years of satisfactory ratings in a PSASA role on annual performance evaluations

• No Performance Improvement Plan in place

• No substantiated labor relations issues in the past five years

The PSASA Joint Governing Panel notifies eligible candidates before the application period opens. This allows those district administrators to review the expectations of the role and decide whether to apply.

Candidates submit artifacts demonstrating performance in five domains:

1. Building a culture of learning (qualifying domain)

2. Shared district vision of learning

3. Leadership and capacity building

4. Collaboration

5. Advocacy

Resources to download:

• Artifact guidance

• Distinguished District Administrator Pathway Portfolio Rubric

After the committee portfolio review, successful candidates are notified that they will be placed on the distinguished pathway effective July 1 of the next school year. Distinguished status is reviewed every three years.