Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy

Why it matters

Great schools require great school leaders, and CFA recognizes the critical link between strong principals and student success. Research studies have found that principals account for approximately 25% of a school’s total impact on student achievement. The role of principal has greatly expanded beyond purely administrative responsibilities to now include the role of instructional leader and architect of the school’s teaching and learning environments. Principals who act as effective instructional leaders are cited by classroom teachers as a key reason they continue to stay in the profession. Great school leaders create a culture of excellence, drive school performance, and improve teacher retention and student outcomes. To be great, these leaders must be supported through a curriculum of training and development.

How it works

The Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy (BTO Academy) provides executive leadership training to current and aspiring school and district leaders across Arizona. Following the nationally recognized National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) curriculum, it draws on the strongest leadership development practices from education, business, and the military and is proven to impact student achievement for all learners. Graduates of the BTO Academy form a powerful community of school and district leaders equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to lead for excellence and equity, enhance teacher retention and quality, create a culture of high expectations in their learning communities, and raise achievement outcomes for all students.

The BTO Academy provides training to groups of 25-30 current and aspiring school leaders who come together over 12-15 months for in-depth, inquiry-based, and job-embedded executive development in a cohort-based format. Virtual and hybrid delivery models of the curriculum were added in spring 2020. Training is locally delivered by BTO Academy trainers who are proven Arizona education leaders, recognized in the field, and nationally NISL-certified. The BTO Academy recently expanded to include coaching and mentoring for school leaders. Coaches build a strong relationship with their principals and focus on individually supporting leaders’ ability to think strategically, manage change, and execute best practices in instructional leadership.

CFA launched the BTO Academy in 2017 with public-private investment support from the Office of the Governor, Helios Education Foundation, and the Burton Family Foundation. CFA is rapidly expanding the BTO Academy to support educational excellence and equity in communities across our state.

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