Nuevo León Principals' Visit

On June 18, 2014, The Renaissance Leadership Academy (M.S.322) had the pleasure of hosting 26 principals from Nuevo León Mexico as part of The Center for Technology and School Change at Teacher’s college supports Programa Internacional del Dessarrollo de Líderes de Escuelas Preparatorias (International Program for the Development of High School Leaders). The program engages principals of Nuevo León Mexico in matters relating to educational school leadership and improvement. The main objective of this initiative is for principals to gain a deeper understanding of how their role as school leaders influences change for teaching and learning in their schools. Their work involves designing strategies and plans to support the shifts necessary for improvement in literacy education.   Erica Zigelman, the principal of the school, along with other members of her staff eagerly welcomed the group. Two students from Mexican families were served as ambassadors and provided the group with a brief introduction of the school. During their visit the principals spent time learning the history of M.S.322 in order to gain a clearer understanding of the school’s mission and the variety of ways the school addresses the challenges in serving a large ELL population. Additionally, a representative from The Children’s Aid Society, the school’s CBO, addressed the group and emphasized the importance of supporting the social-emotion needs of students and during these critical adolescent years. Principals spent the rest of the afternoon visiting classrooms and touring the school in smaller groups.