DURHAM, NC - Brittany Moore, Principal of C.F. Pope Elementary, was among 25 school leaders from various parts of North Carolina who recently completed the Assistant Principal Accelerator Leadership Program. The graduation ceremony took place on June 28, 2023, in Durham.
Superintendents across the state nominated over 60 individuals for the program. Ms. Moore was nominated while serving as Assistant Principal at Warsaw Elementary School in Duplin County. In January 2023, she was appointed as Principal at C.F. Pope Elementary.
"Ms. Moore's completion of the Assistant Principal Accelerator Leadership Program is a testament to her unwavering commitment to educational excellence," said Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove. "Through this program, she has honed her leadership abilities and acquired invaluable skills that will help propel our school community to new heights, ensuring a brighter future for our students."
Through a rigorous selection process facilitated by NCPAPA (North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals' Association), a diverse and experienced inaugural cohort of 25 members was chosen. Nearly half of the participants are individuals of color, and three out of four are female. On average, the cohort members possess three years of experience in educational leadership. These selected participants will enter the AP Accelerator Program, where they will receive targeted leadership development and coaching from proven practitioners in the field.
“The AP Accelerator Program allows us to invest in school leaders and grow the pipeline of highly qualified and excellent principals in our state,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said. “As a teacher, I know that principals are the great multipliers of excellence, building and maintaining school morale, so we want to prioritize this group of professionals and ensure that they are supported and provided with professional development opportunities to continue growing.”
Supported by NCPAPA and a team of highly effective and experienced mentors, the inaugural cohort will engage in a concentrated curriculum specifically designed to enhance their competencies and implement research-based practices associated with successful school turnaround efforts. Additionally, they will benefit from intensive coaching and group mentoring, which will accelerate their preparedness to lead and transform high-needs schools.
NCPAPA plans to pilot and refine the curriculum in collaboration with the inaugural cohort and intends to include additional cohorts in the future. Their ultimate aim is to add 100 principal-ready candidates each year to the candidate pool for high-needs schools.
