New Leaders is a national nonprofit that develops transformational leaders for high-need schools and promotes the system-level policies and practices that allows strong leaders to succeed.

Our Impact

Over the past decade, New Leaders has trained almost 800 educators who are now impacting the lives of a quarter million students, boosting achievement and graduation rates in 12 urban areas across the country. New Leader Principals often lead some of the highest gaining schools in our partner districts.

Our History

New Leaders, formerly called New Leaders for New Schools, was founded in 2000 by a team of social entrepreneurs, including Jon Schnur and Chief Strategy Officer, Benjamin Fenton. The organization was first conceived by five business and education graduate students. Throughout the planning and design phase, the team drew upon extensive interviews with school leaders and district superintendents, their own experiences as classroom teachers and leaders, and the most current thinking in education and policy.

Our Programs and Services

As we enter our second decade, we are building off the success of our flagship Aspiring Principals Program to expand our programs and services.  Below is a full list of what we do:

Emerging Leaders Program

Our latest program offering grows the adult leadership capabilities of talented teachers and other instructional leaders, starting them on the path to a transformational leadership role, possibly as a principal.

Aspiring Principals Program

Our best-in-class principal training program includes a strong academic foundation and a year-long residency experience in a high-need public school.

Principal Institute

Our support for new principals provides substantial professional development and colleagueship in the context of a professional learning community for our first-year (and second-year secondary) New Leader Principals.

Leadership Development Services

Our high-quality leadership development programs support assistant principals, principals and principal managers in facing the unique challenges of running high-need schools.

Policy and Practice Services

Our work developing effective leadership policies and practices helps partner school systems (districts, charter management organizations and states) provide principals with the guidance and support they need to succeed.