Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education announced that David Hoffert, chief academic officer for Warsaw Community Schools, will serve as one of 11 mentors to the members of the inaugural Indiana Principal Leadership Institute class. 

The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute is a 2 year experience designed to address the professional needs of Indiana public school principals with an emphasis on student success. The institute will increase a principal’s capacity to address the current needs of their school, such as teacher evaluation models, student performance, community involvement and shaping a strong school culture.

The mentors will play a key role in guiding small group activities and discussions with the participating principals. The diverse experience of the mentors at various leadership levels will help their mentees process and incorporate information learned at the institute into meaningful and usable knowledge. At the same time, the mentors will serve as the basis of a supportive network that each principal will develop over the course of the institute.

A Warsaw resident, David Hoffert currently serves as the chief academic officer for Warsaw Community Schools. Prior to this position, he was the principal of Northfield Junior-Senior High School in Wabash and was a history teacher and track coach at Warsaw Community High School for 7 years. He is a graduate of Anderson University and received a M.S. in curriculum and instructional design from Olivet Nazarene. He earned his Ed.S. in educational leadership from Indiana State University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational administration at Indiana State.

“Experiences from successful school leaders are priceless,” said Steve Gruenert, chair of educational leadership in the Bayh College of Education, “which is why the institute’s mentoring component is so critical. We believe the power of mentoring will not just personally benefit each principal, it will enable them to make their schools better places for their students to learn and grow.”

The mentors were selected through a collaborative effort between Indiana State University and the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Fifty principals are slated to participate in the inaugural class. Principals interested in applying for the second class, which will launch in summer 2014, should apply online at www.indianapli.org. A one-time financial contribution of $1,000 from the school corporation is required for participation, as it cements both the commitment of the principal and superintendent to the program.

Nominating a principal implies the superintendent and school board think the principal has the potential to improve their school, are supportive of positive change in the school and will allow data collection to occur.

The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute at Indiana State University was created by bipartisan legislation authored by Sens. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) and Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn).  It was supported by Sens. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute), Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) and Reps. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute), Alan Morrison (R-Terre Haute), Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon), Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes), Sue Errington (D-Muncie), and Clyde Kersey (D-Terre Haute). Gov. Mike Pence approved the legislation in May.