NOVA SCOTIA ASPIRING LEADERS PROGRAM
The Nova Scotia Aspiring Leaders Program (ALP) is a professional learning program for teachers, mentors, department heads, and regional centre/board consultants who are interested in becoming effective school principals and/or vice principals. The program is offered by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, in partnership with the Educational Leadership Consortium of Nova Scotia (ELCNS) and Nova Scotia’s regional centres/boards. The program was developed in response to a priority identified by regional centres/boards, and to support the commitment to teaching and educational leadership outlined in Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for Education (2015).
The ALP extends over 14 months beginning in August 2025 and includes two summer institutes and seven Friday-Saturday seminars. An eight-day residency program with an experienced school principal is integrated throughout the program. A certificate is granted following an exit assessment and successful completion of all program components.
The program has been designed to be a balance between knowledge and skills, theory and practice. Reflection and networking opportunities are incorporated into each seminar.
| COMPONENT | LOCATION/DATE/TIME | COMPONENT DETAILS |
|
Summer Institute 2025 |
August 11-12, 2025 Delta Dartmouth |
-Program orientation/ Insights ELCNS Summer Leadership Conference |
|
Friday-Saturday Seminars |
One Friday-Saturday seminar will be held each month from September 2024 to May 2025 (no seminar December 2025 or
Three seminars will be offered via an on-line platform for November, January and February.
Friday sessions will start at 1:00 and Saturday sessions are full day. Seminar locations will rotate around the province. |
School Culture
|
|
Summer Institute August 2026 |
Location TBA |
Student Services |
|
Residency Program |
The residency program will take place within individual regional centres/boards throughout the program. |
Mentoring with an experienced principal and applying seminar learnings through bridging activities. |
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications are submitted through each participating region/board. Applicants must provide three work-related references that include their current supervisor. Personnel from each region/board will review applications and make selections based on identified criteria. All applicants will be notified following the selection process.
Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by personnel from each region/board. The interview panel will make the final selection of successful candidates.
*The deadline for applications for the 2025-26 Cohort H program is April 25, 2025*
MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions or wish additional information about the Nova Scotia Aspiring Leaders Program, please contact:
Ryan MacDonald, Coordinator of Programs PP-12 & TCRCE ALP Liaison
ryan.macdonald@tcrce.ca
You may also contact Gordon Walters, ALP Coordinator, at gwalters@elcns.ca for more information/questions about the program.
