The language, theories, and concepts I have learned in PLI have strengthened my identity as a social justice leader. I learned how to disrupt injustice from Theoharis, utilize Yosso’s community cultural wealth, and apply Moll’s funds of knowledge. I soaked in Dewey’s words on the role of democracy in education, bell hooks’ passion in seeing marginalization as a site of resistance, john powell’s speech on bridging and building belonging, and Jeff Duncan-Andrade’s rose-out-of-concrete metaphor illustrating critical hope. Empowered with the voices and vision of these courageous leaders, I now teach and lead with a greater purpose and urgency.”
UCLA’s Principal Leadership Institute program (PLI) prepares educators to be social justice leaders in Los Angeles schools who:
- Advocate for quality learning opportunities;
- Improve teaching and learning;
- Promote educational achievement for all students;
- Create democratic and culturally-responsive learning environments;
- Build partnerships with parents and community groups.
Through a 14-month program, the Principal Leadership Institute’s graduates become instructional leaders who understand what conditions are needed to promote rigorous, high quality learning. They become adult educators who support the development of teachers and staff, and they become community leaders who have the knowledge and commitment to forge partnerships with parents, grassroots community groups, civic leaders, and organized labor.
The PLI program starts during summer and continues through the next summer.
Students attend classes at UCLA while continuing to work with their schools and communities. Through coursework, students engage theory and recent research. Through field work in schools and communities, students grapple with critical questions of practice facing social justice educators.
The PLI program offers a tier-one administrative credential and a master’s degree in education.
We encourage applications from educators with:
- Five or more years experience as a classroom teacher;
- Experience working for educational justice with teachers;
- Experience working for change alongside parents and community groups;
- A commitment to Los Angeles youth and communities.
