Overview
The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.
The members of the Principal Advisory Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall:
- Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;
- Act as a link between the school and the community;
- Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community; and
- Work to increase student achievement and performance through transparent operations and shared best practices.
The Principal Advisory Council operates under the control and management of the DeKalb County School District and will follow Board of Education policies and procedures. The Principal Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the school principal, the local board of education and local school superintendent on matters related to school climate/culture, student achievement, and community partnerships.
Fall 2024 Principal Advisory Council Elections
Electronic voting for SY24-25 Principal Advisory Council (PAC) elections ended Wednesday, September 25th at 5:00pm EST. The School Innovation Department would like to thank all candidates for their participation in the elections process and for their desire to assume a leadership role in continuous school improvement. Election results can be found at the links below.
Next Steps
Newly-elected members will be contacted by your principal and/or Council Chair about 2024-2025 meetings dates. Our team will connect new and returning members in a follow-up email. The first PAC meeting of SY24-25 should be held no later than Friday, November 1, 2024.
Plan to complete School Governance 101 training this Fall. Click here to register for a virtual session.
Save the Date! The Fall 2024 PAC Meet and Greet will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at the AIC building. Click here to register
Build context for your role by reviewing minutes, agendas, and resources on your Principal Advisory Council’s webpage. The page can be found under the “About Us” tab on your school’s main site. Review the Council bylaws and other resources on our team’s website: http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/principal-advisory-councils
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the School Innovation Team at 678.676.0718.
2024-2025 Calendar of Events
School Governance 101 Training
Dates: October 21, November 13, December 11, January 15, and February 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual Training Session
Date | Time | Link to Register |
---|---|---|
Monday, October 21, 2024 (virtual) | 10:00 am-12:00 pm | Register Here |
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 (virtual) | 10:00 am- 12:00 pm | Register Here |
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 (virtual) | 10:00 am- 12:00 pm | Register Here |
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (virtual) | 10:00 am- 12:00 pm | Register Here |
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 (virtual) | 10:00 am-12:00 pm | Register Here |
Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Location: 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard · Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Registration
Innovative Solutions Lab
What is the Innovation Solutions Lab (ISL)?
The School Innovation Department annually hosts a competition that awards funding for proposals that demonstrate innovation in addressing school-based problems of practice. Multiple awards up to $10,000 each are awarded to school-based teams to implement their innovative solution(s).
Who can apply?
Teams must be school-based and comprised of 3-6 individuals. Teams may include teachers, academic coaches, support staff, administrators, parents, and students. Teams must include a principal or assistant principal.
How does my DCSD school-based team apply?
Teams attend a mandatory workshop to identify a problem of practice. Additional technical support sessions are offered through the School Innovation Department. Use the application link, project plan, and budget template linked below to apply.
Get Ready for Pitch Day!
Finalists will present their innovative proposals to a panel of judges at Pitch Day!
ISL Key Dates
- August 19, 2024: Application Window Open
- October 11, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Priority Deadline – School-based teams who submit their applications by the priority deadline will receive feedback on their submissions by Monday, October 21, 2024. This feedback may be used to strengthen the ISL proposal before the final application deadline.
- October 25, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Final Application Deadline
- November 4, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Pitch Day Invitation Notification
- November 20, 2024: Pitch Day – a 20-minute block between the hours of 9:00am and 2:00pm
Optional Support Available
- Information Sessions (Virtual): October 1 (10:00am EST) and October 7 (1:00pm EST)
- TregoED Situation Appraisal Sessions to Identify a Problem of Practice (In-Person): September 25, October 3, October 8, and October 9 (8:00pm – 12:00pm EST) – Register for course # 5606 in Frontline.
- Technical Support Sessions (In-Person): On October 10 and 23, the School Innovation team will host optional work sessions to support finalizing your team’s application, project plan, and budget. Register using this link.
ISL Key Documents
If you have questions or need technical assistance, please contact Terrence Martin, Coordinator III, School Redesign at terrence_martin@dekalbschoolsga.org.
Spotlight Schools
What is the Spotlight Schools initiative?
The DCSD Spotlight Schools program is an initiative that highlights innovative instructional practices through in-person school visits and tailored resources. The program will highlight forward-thinking, cutting-edge approaches to teaching and learning for educators to learn and replicate. Hosting schools will welcome and share practices to foster a culture of collaboration and transparency across the district.
Hosting schools will host up to 40 visitors for a full-day visit (between February 2025-March 2025) and curate artifacts for sharing and learning. Selected Spotlight Schools will receive funding, resources, and support. For more information, please contact Alia Summers.
What are the Spotlight School requirements?
- Hosting schools must align their innovative practice to one or more of the DCSD Six Essential Systems.
- Hosting schools must curate artifacts for sharing and learning their innovative practice.
- Hosting schools must create a planning team that will meet with the School Governance Coordinator and school-based teams in December 2024 and January 2025.
- Spotlight visits must occur between February 2025-March 2025 (1 visit per school).
Spotlight Schools Key Dates:
The Spotlight Schools application closes November 1, 2024. Selected schools must plan to host their Spotlight School visit between February 2025-March 2025 (1 visit per school).
Spotlight Schools Resources:
If you have any questions, please contact Alia Summers at Alia Summers.