ABSTRACT
The intent is to assist aspiring educational leaders in the assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation of a successful district leadership experience. In effect, the leadership experiences become a strategic plan, requiring assessments, timelines, ongoing monitoring and adjusting, evaluation, and reporting. School district leaders play a critical role in improving student outcomes, ensuring quality instruction, and the ability to turn around struggling public schools. Key to learning in the internship is assessment and feedback from self-evaluations, internship supervisors, and preparation program faculty and advisors. Leadership preparation candidates must be familiar with two sets of educational leadership standards. It is strongly recommended that the intern become an active member in the professional associations of their choice for continued and further professional development, networking, and mentoring opportunities. States differ in how they assess readiness based on their standards – some have exams and others require performance assessments or portfolios.
