Arizona students and teachers deserve great principals, who provide essential support for achievement and excellence. Great principals advance their leadership with coaching and feedback from public and charter school supervisors.

Now in its fifth year, the Arizona’s Supervisors of Principals’ Academy (SOPA) is a learning network for current principal supervisors, who are central office administrators that coach and evaluate principals. Individual supervisors or central office teams can join the seven-month SOPA program for $500 per participant. SOPA’s standards-driven content is informed by best practices, great research and experienced Arizona colleagues to advance your principal supervisory practices.

Why join the SOPA Network?

SOPA network participants are driven to improve coaching, evaluation and conditions for exemplary school leadership. If you are a current principal supervisor seeking to improve your practice, then SOPA is for you! Through SOPA, we will:

• Build supervisory skills in coaching, performance evaluation and principal supports.
• Improve supervisory systems and practices.
• Exchange ideas, advice among Arizona principal supervisors and experienced coaches.

We provide:

• Two hours of leadership coaching from experienced administrators each month;
• In-person, regional learning sessions provided by leading practitioners and researchers on leadership coaching, principal evaluation design, and systems of principal support;
• Principal observation and survey tools to ensure supervision is data-driven.

The SOPA professional learning program aligns nicely with Arizona Department of Education’s Principal Leadership Academy, and we plan to convene supervisors and principals to learn together.

Who can participate?

As a learning community, SOPA members are committed to their own learning and supporting network members. SOPA members may be charter or public school principal supervisors who are also:

• Superintendents or assistant superintendents
• Directors of schools
• Human resource directors
• Leadership coaches
• Other central office administrators

We ask that all SOPA members commit to their own learning and support others’ learning. SOPA participation can result in continuing education credits.

When does SOPA start and end?

SOPA is a seven-month professional learning program for principal supervisors, which delivers essential content and provides opportunities for extended learning. Our schedule is as follows:

SOPA Institute 1

August 21, 2025 from 9:00-4:00 Phoenix, AZ.

Regional Session 1: Supervision as a Balancing Act

Week of September 8, 2025 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

Regional Session 2: Relationships and Culture

Week of October 13, 2025 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

Regional Session 3: The Power of Trust

Week of November 10, 2025 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

Regional Session 4: Coaching with Evidence

Week of January 12, 2026 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

Regional Session 5: Principal Evaluation Practice

Week of February 9, 2026 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

Regional Session 6: Leading Data Conversations

Week of March 9, 2026 from 9:00-2:00. Near you.

SOPA Institute 2

March 26, 2026 from 9:00-4:00 Phoenix, AZ.

What are the expectations for SOPA learning?

We ask that—as a principal supervisor—you fully commit to the learning activities in the network and actively participate with network members. We rely on your ideas, input and perspective to make this network a vibrant, statewide resource.

SOPA is a low-cost professional development opportunity. Joining requires a $500 payment, which supports catering and other accommodations.

When will I hear if I am accepted into the program?

Please submit your application by July 16, 2025. Admissions is rolling, and we will notify applicants within five business days after the application is received.

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The Arizona Department of Education provides essential services and support to Arizona’s parents, community members, students and educators in order to advance student achievement and economic prosperity.

WestEd is a nonpartisan research, development, and service agency that works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults.