PPEERS Recruitment

UNC Greensboro is recruiting 20 highly committed instructional leaders for the Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS) – A North Carolina Principal Fellows Program. We are looking for those who are passionate about rural schools and who would like to participate in a fully-funded, intensive 42- credit hour Master of School Administration (MSA) two-year degree program.

The application process is open to all interested participants who meet the selection requirements, characteristics, and assurances, and submit all application materials as outlined. Each partnering district has a limited number of openings; as a result, the selection of participants is a competitive process.

Characteristics of Strong PPEERS Candidate

• Substantive (at least 4 years) teaching experience
• Strong instructional skills
• Experience using data to inform instruction
• Commitment to educational change
• Experience supporting the growth of teachers
• Strong social/emotional skills
• Commitment to equity
• Commitment to serving in rural schools
• Value for diversity and difference
• Growth mindset
• Commitment to serving in their sponsoring district
• Resilience and persistence
• Strong collaborative skills
• Strong work ethic
• Solution orientation

Participant Assurances

• Sign a Promissory Note with the State Education Assistance Authority committing to serving as a school administrator in a NC public school for four years (or two years at a high-needs school) within six years of program completion.

• Participant holds a teaching license in North Carolina and holds at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;

• Participant will actively participate in and apply learning during the required 42 credit hour (10 courses and a 12-credit internship) program of rigorous UNCG coursework from August 2022 – June 2024, earning a Masters of School Administration (MSA) degree and initial principal licensure;

• Participant will engage in Boot Camp in July of 2022 and Internship Boot Camp in July of 2023 (see PPEERS 4 calendar);

• Participant will engage in intensive week-long Summer Institutes in June 2023 and June 2024 (see PPEERS 4 calendar for dates);

• Participant will take part in all PPEERS enrichment activities, including two Saturday Seminars each semester of the program (see PPEERS 4 calendar);

• Participant will actively participate in the Study Tour, Performance Learning Days, Mid-Internship Conference, and Mock Interviews as scheduled (see PPEERS 4 calendar);

• Participant will fully participate in the comprehensive, 11-month, full-time paid clinical internship August 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 at assigned school and attend bi-weekly Thursday seminars during the internship.
• Applicant will collaboratively work with Mentor Principal, Internship Supervisor, and Leadership Coach, enacting feedback to grow and develop in school-based leadership;

Learn more by reviewing our PPEERS 4 Program Brochure (PDF), PPEERS Course Descriptions, PPEERS Program Calendars: 2022, 2023, 2024 (PDF), and PPEERS 2022-2024 Event Timeline (PDF).

Selection Process

Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS) candidates will be selected through a rigorous two-stage process:

Stage 1: District Application – Due 1/31/2022

1. Application & Current Résumé
2. 3 confidential Letters of Support forms, one of which must be from your current supervisor (grade-level chair, peer, community member, etc.)
3. 3 to 5 page personal statement that reflects commitment to education, experience with instructional leadership and data use, and commitment to being an equity-oriented change agent
4. Panel interview or video-recording (recording no longer than 6 minutes) of applicant responding to a district leadership scenario or a case study selected by the district selection team from the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.

PPEERS candidates who are selected by the District Selection Committee will move to Stage 2.  Notifications will be made on or before 2/28/22 by the District Selection Committee.

Stage 2: UNCG Application – Due 3/14/2022

1. Formal Application to the UNCG Graduate School, which requires: 1) transcripts; 2) three recommendations (can be the same from stage 1); 3) current resume and 4) a written essay in response to a prompt.
2. Attend Interview Day at UNCG on 3/19/2022.

Final decisions will be made by UNC Greensboro in collaboration and agreement with each partner district on 3/30/2022.

Completion of program leads to NC Level I Principal License and MSA degree.