Mission

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. 

Vision

BPN envisions a nation where the brilliance, well-being, and success of Black principals is 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 both 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.

The Leadership Collaborative

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.

TLC 2027 ACADEMY SESSION DATES & THEMES

SESSION 1: April 8-10, 2027, Atlanta
Community–Restoration–Liberation–Professional Growth
In-person Onboarding & Opening Retreat
The Power of Authentic Leadership: How Am I Showing Up?

SESSION 2: May 19, 2027, Virtual
Professional Growth–Restoration
The Power of Distributive Leadership: Building The Bench

SESSION 3: June 16, 2027, Virtual
Professional Growth–Community
The Power of Culture and Relationship: Picking Up the Pieces

SESSION 4: July 8-10, 2027, Philadelphia
Community–Restoration–Liberation–Professional Growth
The Power of Advocacy: Naming the Root

SESSION 5: August 11, 2027, Virtual
Community–Restoration–Liberation–Professional Growth
The Power of Partnership: Whose Village Is it?

SESSION 6: September 8, 2027, Virtual
Liberation-Professional Growth
The Power of Intentionality:  Beyond Good Intentions

SESSION 7: October 7-9, 2027, Chicago
Community–Restoration–Liberation–Professional Growth
The Power of the Collective: Where Do We Go From Here?
Final Presentation and Closing Celebration

Candidate Criteria

Financial Requirements

The tuition for this cohort is $7,500. The cost of airfare, accommodations and on-site meals during in-person sessions of The Leadership Collaborative will be provided by BPN. $1,500 down payment due by March 3rd, 2027.