Humanities Preparatory Academy
Leadership
Administrative Leadership
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total)
Developing Leaders
Instructional Leadership
Keeping the Vision
Managing Change
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Governance
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Decision Making
Democratic Practice
Autonomy
Teacher Leadership
Student Leadership
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Philosophy
Humanities Prep's democratic values play a major role in the school's collaborative leadership structure. Managerial powers and roles, which shape the school in essential ways, are decentralized. Humanities Prep is, in essence, a federation of teachers. A site-based decision-making group of parents, teachers, students, and administrators has significant authority over hiring, academic offerings, professional development, and budget—with all resource allocations focused on student achievement. And although the principal guides the academic life and intellectual vision at Humanities Prep, the Co-directors are the heart of the school's administration. Working alongside teachers in staff meetings, conferences, and committees, the Co-directors model the values and habits of teamwork, respect, and constructive critique.
Achievements
After earning an Annenberg Foundation grant through New Visions for Public Schools, Humanities Prep opened its doors to New York City students in September 1997. In the years since, the school has served as a model of participatory schooling and democratic leadership, regularly hosting principal mentorship and student-teacher programs as well as numerous visits from new school development teams. A wide variety of school and district leaders have endorsed Humanities Prep's design and commended its administrators for their innovative leadership.
Challenges
Rooted in collaboration and consensus, Humanities Prep's leadership structure requires active participation from a diverse set of stakeholders. The school's mission and objectives must therefore be both unwavering and consistently promoted.
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