The program begins in the summer, where participants meet for two weeks in an intensive “summer camp.” During these two weeks, participants study three components: Understanding why change is needed for school leadership, developing a vision of teaching and learning, and reviewing the components that are central to building a school’s capacity to propel teaching and learning.

During the school year, participants meet monthly on Saturdays, from 9:00-4:00, with Peabody College faculty and on a regular basis with their peer coaches for shadowing and problem solving. Furthermore, the participants meet one evening a month from 5:00-8:00 with academy faculty and mentors to discuss progress on strategic initiatives and on their individual growth plans, to problem solve, and to use data to assess change.

Throughout the academy, each participant decides upon one or two strategic initiatives to implement in his/her school in the fall aimed at raising student achievement and learning, utilizing sound principles and practices about how students learn and about the change process. They are asked to turn their strategic action plan into a technologized format from which the next Academy class can learn, thus, leaving a legacy for future PLAN participants.