Pictured (left to right) Dr. Doug Allen (superintendent of the Jamestown Area School District), Dr. Doug Hazlett (mentor and associate professor, Thiel College), Brian Keyser (protégé and principal, Jamestown Area High School), and Shane Murray (protégé and principal, Jamestown Area Elementary School).

GREENVILLE, PA – Three local administrators completed training through the Principals Leadership Induction Network (PLIN) at the end of September. The administrators completing the program were Principal Shane Murray of Jamestown Area Elementary School, Principal Brian Keyser of Jamestown Area High School and Assistant Principal Tim Nesbit of Frew Mill School. Dr. Doug Hazlett, assistant professor of education at Thiel College, served as their mentor.

Most new school principals start out with little administrative experience and often have to “figure out” their new jobs on their own. In order to provide a mentor program to administrators like those that exist for teachers, The Principals Leadership Induction Network was created. This program is a Pennsylvania Department of Education initiative that provides mentoring to novice school principals and assistant principals with research-based and individually effective school improvement practices through a supportive mentor.

During the program, the administrators participated in mandatory training, ongoing professional development and weekly communications. They also received face-to-face, on-site visits from Hazlett.

“The PLIN is a great program to help new school principals adjust to their responsibilities and to become the best administrators they can,” says Hazlett. “I am very happy that I was able to use my skills and experience to help these new principals make a difference in their schools.”

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