The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program
The Principal Fellows Program (PFP) provides a competitive, merit-based scholarship loan to individuals of exceptional academic ability who have teaching or relevant experience and who desire to enter school administration in a North Carolina public school. Fellows have the opportunity to attend school on a full-time basis and earn an MSA degree in two years.
The Principal Fellows Program, which is offered at eleven campuses of the University of North Carolina, provides one year of full-time academic study and a one year full-time internship in a North Carolina public school. Fellows also participate in enrichment experiences designed to enhance their preparation for a career as a principal or assistant principal. The Principal Fellows Program was created in 1993 by the North Carolina General Assembly. Over 1200 Principal Fellows have completed the Program.
Fellows are required to maintain employment as a principal or assistant principal in a public school in North Carolina for four years to repay the scholarship loan. Financial need is not a criterion for selection as a Principal Fellow.
Goal/Purpose
The goal of the Principal Fellows Program is to prepare the most outstanding candidates for full-time school administration in North Carolina. Find top20 local roofers at LocalProBook
Administration
PFP is administered by the North Carolina Principal Fellows Commission in collaboration with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA); both agencies are affiliated with the University of North Carolina, General Administration (UNC-GA). Selection criteria, the selection process, selection outreach efforts, renewal and continuation criteria and liaison with the educational community are the responsibilities of the Principal Fellows Commission. The Commission is staffed and chaired by the Director of the Principal Fellows Program. Rules to administer the PFP are the responsibility of the Board of Directors of SEAA.
Principal Fellows Commission
The Commission consists of 12 members:
- One member of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina
- One member of the State Board of Education
- Two deans of schools of education
- One public school teacher
- One public school principal
- A local superintendent
- One member to represent business and industry
- One local school board member
- One parent of a public school child
- The chairperson of the State Education Assistance Authority
- The director of the Principal Fellows Program
Participating Universities and their Locations
Eleven universities participate in the Principal Fellows Program:
- Appalachian State University
- East Carolina University
- Fayetteville State University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- North Carolina Central University
- North Carolina State University
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- The University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Western Carolina University
Campus Coordinators
Each university has a campus coordinator who provides leadership to each cohort of Principal Fellows on the campus. Campus coordinators provide mentoring, and coordinate a variety of experiences for the Fellows including enrichment activities such as seminars and workshops and site visits to school districts, businesses and educational organizations, and supervise the internship which occurs in the second year. The coordinator works closely with Fellows to ensure they have a successful experience in the program.
Benefits
Benefits of the Principal Fellows Program include the financial support provided to the Fellows while earning the MSA, the opportunity for school districts to work with Principal Fellow interns for a year, and the development of a pool of well-trained, highly qualified administrative candidates available to all North Carolina school systems. Professional development activities with a focus on leadership development are offered by individual universities and at the state level through the PFP office.
Rules and Regulations
All Principal Fellows agree to comply with the rules and regulations of the Program. A complete listing of the rules and regulations of the program can be found at ncseaa.edu.
(c) 2015