The Leadership Collaborative applications are open!
Learn more about The Leadership Collaborative cohort experience and apply today!
Application | Application Guide
Learn more about The Leadership Collaborative cohort experience and apply today!
Application | Application Guide
Launched by Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, the Black Principals Network was designed to curate space for black principals from across the country in pursuit of community, professional growth, and collective liberation. Since the program’s original launch in 2021, more than 350 principals have joined the online platform, participating in shared learning and community building. As the brainchild of Schusterman’s Education Grantmaking team Heather Harding, Senior Director, and Cheryl Thompson, Director, the hope since inception has been that BPN would find a home with an aligned organization.
The Black Principals Network is dedicated to the community, restoration, professional development, and liberation of Black principals across the country. The overarching goal of BPN is to co-create a community of Black principals in pursuit of the career-bolstering and self-sustaining practices that are often not prioritized in this impactful yet demanding role.
BPN envisions a nation where the brilliance, well-being, and success of Black principals are prioritized and nourished. For Black principals to successfully lead, educate, and inspire the communities they serve, there must be an active resistance against the professional burnout, isolation, trauma, and repression commonly experienced within this role. Black principals need a safe, nutritive space to connect with and learn alongside peers near and far. Through individual programming focused on self-discovery, sustainability, and radical self-care combined with collective programming that centers on problem-solving, access to high-quality resources, and critical reflection, BPN will help further equip Black principals in their roles as leaders and educators, and add to their well-roundedness as human beings.
Community is the gathering of hearts, minds, and resources for the co-creation of knowledge, connection, and healing for the collective.
Restoration is the intentional prioritization of rest and renewal for ourselves so that we can navigate our daily lives from a place of groundedness and abundance.
Professional Growth is the examination and development of our own areas of refinement so that we can best support the growing needs of our current school communities.
Liberation is the expansion of the mindset, resources, and autonomy of individuals in service of collective healing.
The Leadership Collaborative is a more intimate cohort immersive learning experience created out of feedback from BPN members. While gathering data about what school leaders really need during this time, the repeat request was for an opportunity for leaders who share collective cultural backgrounds, experiences, and goals across the nation to gather, connect, innovate, and share solution-based strategies while building community.
The Leadership Collaborative is a monthly, community space consisting of seven sessions of which include 4 virtual and 3 in-person connection points that will provide a deeper sense of connection through programming. The program includes an intentional professional learner series, individual principal coaching, self-care strategies/practices, and a problem of practice that selected leaders nationwide will collectively work on together to take back to their school communities. Our goal is to support Black principals in their quest to proactively and effectively address the problems of practice germane to the school communities they serve.
In-person Onboarding & Opening Retreat
How Do You Show Up?: The power of authentic leadership
All Hands on Deck: The role of distributive leadership in identifying, developing and retaining your staff
Picking Up the Pieces: Leading through Disruption and Reuniting your Culture and Climate
The Core Vs the Root: Addressing Implicit and Conscious Biases with Courageous Conversations
It Takes a Village: Leveraging Family and Community Engagement
Liberating Student Voices: Using qualitative and quantitative data to move students forward
Where Do We Go From Here?: The Path Moving Forward
Final presentation and Closing Celebration
TaraShaun is committed to securing enriching opportunities that expand the educational experiences of the communities she serves with a heavy focus on climate, culture, and student agency. This is evident by her work with LEAP innovations in personalized learning, the Fund, the Middle School Project, and various other community-based organizations. Her work has focused on building the capacity of teachers, leaders, and students around high-quality instruction, student advocacy and engagement, personalized learning, student-centered design, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Her passion for liberatory and equitable learning conditions in schools led her to apply for the Surge fellowship in 2020. Empowered by her experiences and growth, TaraShaun continued to work to create affirming, learner-centered experiences within her school community. TaraShaun is a servant leader that is committed to excellence and assisting others in connecting to their own personal greatness through passion, press, productivity, and positivity.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento in Psychology, she became increasingly interested in personal development and metaphysics. As a result, she enjoys intellectual texts and books on spirituality. Angia’s spirituality is what guides her professional and personal life. She spends her free time outdoors exploring Houston, trying different foods, visiting art exhibits, and open mic nights.
Contact the Black Principals Network at BPN@surgeinstitute.org