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To participate in the Denver Lead Today (DLT) program, candidates must first secure a position as an assistant principal or principal in the district. The program allows candidates to work on alternative licenses while working toward licensure. Interested candidates should apply directly to the Principal and/or Assistant Principal Pool.
Program Overview
Through Denver Lead Today (DLT), an alternative licensure curriculum, highly qualified leaders from any sector can achieve alternative licensure. Participants engage in on-the-job learning experiences, leadership mentoring, a personalized professional learning plan, and coursework that is delivered through a series of classes taught by experienced DPS leaders. Candidates come to the program with a set of existing leadership competencies and skills, and are prepared to assume an assistant principal or principal role in a DPS school, achieve licensure within three years, and impact student achievement on day one The DLT Principal Licensure Program is a rigorous, standards-based leadership development program that offers participants:
- Individualized Support: Support that is tailored to address individualized leadership development needs (Individualized Professional Growth Plan and ongoing progress monitoring)
- Dynamic Learning Community: Participation in a learning community of fellow participants, mentor principals, and other leadership development practitioners
- Learn by doing: Participants benefit from doing the work and responding to feedback that guides professional growth and improved practice
- A tuition-free program option to gain an Initial Principal License and eligibility to apply for Professional License
Program Components
Denver Lead Today participants will need to secure a position as an assistant principal or principal at a DPS school. Once in this position, participants will collaborate with their principal to set a rigorous Professional Growth Plan (PGP) with a large emphasis on instructional leadership. As they work towards the goals set forth in their PGP, participants will engage in:
- Individualized Professional Growth Plan
- Cohort work and field-based training
- DPS New Principal and Assistant Principal Onboarding or the Learn to Lead Principal Residency
- Additional professional learning experiences as defined through Professional Growth Plan
- Field-based supervision
- Mentor
- Direct Supervisor
- Program Director
- Progress monitoring and evaluation
- District professional learning opportunities specifically aligned to growth goals
