ABSTRACT
Educational organizations should understand the leadership preparation program, the competencies required by the program, the developmental activities, and the practical/hands-on training provided to aspiring leaders. Aspiring principal participants report that the Alliance for Leading and Learning (ALL) project's co-taught administrator licensure courses with a University of New Mexico (UNM) faculty member and an Albuquerque Public School (APS) principal prepared them for their internship experience, making the model program strength in the preparation of aspiring principals. It is easier for larger districts to develop relationships with credentialing institutions such as a university leadership preparation program to create their own individual grow-your-own program for aspiring leaders. Cultivating exceptional internal leadership talent is a responsibility of the educational organization. This can and should be done in partnership with other organizations. A "grow-your-own" aspiring leadership model greatly enhances a cohesive Leadership Development System and develops exceptional leaders within a system who are ready to take on new educational roles.
