Strong principals are vital to improving education in America.

BECAUSE STRONG PRINCIPALS
MAKE
BETTER SCHOOLS.

Cahn Fellowship provides advanced leadership development and recognition in large metropolitan areas to strong, talented school leaders to improve public education.

The best schools are led by strong principals. Cahn Fellowship selects high-potential principals to participate in programs that maximize their talents and enhance their skills.

Our programs aim to have a dramatic impact on the performance of the school, the outcomes for the students, and the satisfaction and commitment of the principals themselves.

Learn more about the Cahn Fellowship history and mission.

CLL 2025 Nominations Closed

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Jason Grissom, Anna Egalite, and Constance Lindsay, in a Wallace Foundation report, found that:

“… the impact of an effective principal has likely been understated, with impacts being both greater and broader than previously believed: greater in the impact on student achievement and broader in affecting other important outcomes, including teacher satisfaction and retention (especially among high-performing teachers), student attendance, and reductions in exclusionary discipline.”

“Principals really matter. Indeed, given not just the magnitude but the scope of principal effects, which are felt across a potentially large student body and faculty in a school, it is difficult to envision an investment with a higher ceiling on its potential return than a successful effort to improve principal leadership.”

We extend the tenure of successful principals.

Average tenure of Urban Principals is 6.4 Years

Average tenure of the Cahn Fellowship Principals is 12.5 years; almost double the national average. (Source)

Cahn Fellowship keeps excellent principals longer.

After Just One Year Cahn Fellowship Principals Experienced Significant Improvement.. 

And More of Their Emotional Needs Were Met

BEFORE
More likely to associate their jobs with negative attributes.

AFTER
Significantly decreased negative, and increased positive, attributes. 

Highly Rated by Principals

94% of Cahn Fellows say the program was the best or one of the best personal development programs they’ve taken

86% of participants said that Cahn Fellowship improved their leadership skills a great deal 

A visit to Cahn Fellowship Schools