Dr. Doug Hazlett with two principal proteges, Dave Blakley (above) and Dave Ashton (below).

GREENVILLE, PA – Being a school principal can be a very lonely and often overwhelming job, especially to new principals. Douglas Hazlett, education professor and chair of the Department of Education at Thiel College, helps those new principals adjust to the demands of their jobs through the mentoring program Principals Leadership Induction Network (PLI).

In September, Hazlett visited three public school board meetings to present his three latest graduates of the PLI program—Dave Ashton, assistant principal at Girard Middle School in Girard; Dave Blakley, principal at Lakeview School District in Stoneboro; and Matt Lafko, principal at Moraine Elementary School in Slippery Rock—with a plaque recognizing their completion of the program.

The PLI network pairs veteran administrators with novice principals in order to provide the new principals with the information, support and guidance they need to adjust to their new responsibilities. The PLI program is part of the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Initiative, a state-wide, standards-based leadership development and support program for school leaders. This cohort-based in-service program is delivered through a regional collaboration of Intermediate Units and their partners, like Thiel College.

Hazlett has taught at Thiel College since 2006. He is a former assistant high school principal, middle school principal, curriculum director and assistant superintendent. He will be assigned three new protégé principals for the current academic year.

–30–