New Principal Mentoring Program
Forecasted
New Principal Mentoring Program supports new Illinois principals through individualized mentoring by veteran school leaders to build leadership capacity, strengthen retention, and improve school culture.
Funder: Illinois State Board of Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Historical FY 2022 total: up to $1.2 million; awards based on mentee enrollment; no match required
Summary: Supports individualized mentoring for new Illinois principals to build leadership capacity and reduce turnover, particularly among diverse leaders.
Key Information: The current program page directs principals to mentoring providers; provider grant resources are archived.
Description
The New Principal Mentoring Program is administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Department of District and School Leadership. It pairs principals in their first year of employment in Illinois with veteran principals who have demonstrated success as instructional leaders. Mentoring is individualized, with trained and supported mentors providing consistent assistance tailored to each principal’s needs.
The program seeks to increase access to professional learning, improve job satisfaction, strengthen retention, and improve school culture and climate. It places particular emphasis on diverse leaders and schools serving diverse students, supporting ISBE’s broader work to recruit, coach, and retain high-quality, equity-minded education leaders. Its provider network includes ROE Lead Hubs, Chicago District 299, and the Illinois Principals Association.
