Bush Institute launches initiative for principals

By JAMIE STENGLE
The Associated Press

DALLAS — For its first initiative, the George W. Bush Institute will focus on improving the performance of school principals.

Former first lady Laura Bush was to announce on Wednesday the institute's formation of the Alliance to Reform Education Leadership, or AREL. The alliance will consist of a network of school districts, universities and foundations offering educational programs to current and future school leaders.

"If we do our job right, these graduates will be in very high demand," said James W. Guthrie, senior fellow and director of education policy studies at the institute.

Guthrie said that the entities participating must meet certain criteria by, for instance, offering classes in areas including business and ethics and guaranteeing participants will spend time in schools.

He said they want those who participate to be better trained on how to manage schools. Guthrie said school districts in the alliance must also expand the roles of principals to make them more like chief executives.

So far, organizations in six cities are participating. That includes school districts in Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano in Texas, Marian University in Indianapolis, the business schools at Saint Louis University in Missouri and the University of Denver and the school of education at Dallas' Southern Methodist University. . .

The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University is collaborating with a local education nonprofit for its program, which they hope to offer next year.

"I think that this alliance plans to promote preparation of leaders that combines the best practices in business with the best practices in education," said David Chard, dean of SMU's Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

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