School leadership demands a rare hybrid skill set: proven classroom experience paired with operational savvy in budgeting, enrollment, staffing, and scheduling. Above all, it requires a gift for building trust across students, families, faculty, and the broader community. For emerging leaders, mastering these multifaceted demands can be a daunting challenge.

The Spring Education Group Leadership Academy creates confident, capable, and skilled school leaders through our Head of School in Training (HOST) Program. Since 2023, the HOST program has provided aspiring school leaders with the targeted training and mentorship to succeed as a Head of School—with many graduates earning promotions during or shortly after completing the program.

With more than 30 subject-matter experts from across the Spring Education Group network sharing their expertise in all aspects of school leadership and management, our three cohorts of graduates have gained the confidence and skills necessary to succeed. Members of our third cohort shared their reflections on the program with us, highlighting the way the Leadership Academy brings our mission to develop the best schools and educators in America to life.

“Through our cohort meetings, I was able to truly experience the breadth of Spring Education Group and actively build relationships with colleagues across the network. That experience has empowered me to model for my own team how to leverage the incredible and creative minds across not only the BASIS Independent Schools brand, but the larger Spring Education Group network as well. 

This spring I accepted the Associate Head of School position at BASIS Independent Manhattan Lower School, and I say with no exaggeration that the HOST program empowered me to accept this role without hesitation. I know that I am prepared with the mindset and knowledge necessary to be a successful leader. More than that, I have the reassurance of knowing that I am part of a network that can and will support me through any challenge that may arise.

Abigail Bandarenko
Associate Head of School, PK – Grade 5
BASIS Independent Manhattan Lower School

“I am moving into a Principal position at Paragon Prep after finishing the HOST program and I cannot say enough about how helpful the Leadership Academy was for my growth. Not only did it teach me the hard skills that I need in a leadership role, but it helped me build confidence and view myself as a true leader. Most importantly, it also provided me with the best support group. Our Cohort still talks often, supporting, encouraging, and helping each other through our leadership journeys. I’m so thankful for the HOST program!”

Haley Behr
Assistant Principal
Paragon Prep

“The HOST program was instrumental in my transition to Principal at Stratford School Los Gatos Belgatos Park. It helped me shift my mindset to full campus operations. Between the incredibly valuable HR sessions and the ability to tap into the actual experience of my Head of School mentors, I felt confident navigating the new challenges of leading a growing campus.”

Shirley Manyu Tung
Principal
Stratford School Los Gatos Belgatos Park

“The HOST program was a pivotal piece to my leadership journey. Being promoted to Head of School at Brighton School while going through the program gave me direct and relevant information. It provided me with connections to all supporting departments and many valuable members of the Spring Education Group home office team. I used that network throughout the year to find resources for policies and procedures that were working well in other schools as well as countless check-ins with our cohort to build relationships across our SEG community. I will be forever grateful for this program and experience at the time I needed it most.”

Sarah Parks
Head of School
Brighton School

Building and growing the best schools in America means developing the best school leaders possible. Through the strength of one of the largest private school networks in the country, we are not only empowering our educators to thrive, but directly fulfilling our mission to deliver an exceptional education to every student and family we serve.

Interested in joining one of our outstanding school communities as a faculty or staff member? Learn more about our nationwide network of superior private schools here.