Leveraging mentoring, coaching, and action research to expand leadership capacity toward principalship and district leadership.
***APPLICATION FOR COHORT 4 OPENS OCTOBER 26***
View the Transcript
Hi, my name is Jason Henan.
Hello, I am Jessica Garber.
Greetings, all. My name is Sydney Bailey IV.
Hello, my name is Zach McIntosh.
My name is Gina Schmid.
One of the biggest takeaways that I have had is the opportunity to connect with multiple administrators from throughout the state of Michigan. This not only develops you as a leader yourself, but it also allows you to broaden your perspective on different styles of leadership.
I find the trainings, resources, conferences and just the monthly dialogue invaluable for a profession that doesn’t always get a lot of time to reflect.
It’s always great to be able to talk to others who are going through things similar to you who may not be in the same space that you are in.
Additionally, the fellowship has equipped us with the knowledge and insights necessary to advance toward the principalship and foster our professional growth and development.
It also became a network of people that I can reach out to, and it lets you learn new tricks of the trade and put more tools in your toolbox to help you lead a successful building.
This program puts an intentional effort not only into growing you as a leader, but also as a person. The work that we’ve done around leadership styles, learning styles and equity-focused work has been incredibly valuable.
I cannot tell you how beneficial these relationships are going to be to your career. If you’re thinking about it, I would absolutely fill out the form to be a part of it because it will impact your job in ways that other professional development has not.
Application for Cohort 4 will open Monday, October 26, 2026
Michigan Leadership Fellows is an 18-month, project-based leadership development fellowship offered through a partnership between the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) and the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). Designed to develop and strengthen equity-minded, transformative school leaders, the Fellowship supports both aspiring and current principals in building the capacity to lead effective schools and expand post-secondary educational access and success for all Michigan students.
Through personalized mentoring, professional learning, collaboration, and applied leadership experiences, Fellows strengthen their leadership identity, agency, and purpose while addressing authentic challenges within their schools and communities. The Fellowship emphasizes instructional leadership, organizational improvement, and the role of school leaders in creating equitable post-secondary opportunities for students.
Cohort 4 (2027-2028)
- Applications are open through December 7, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified of selection by December 18, 2026.
- The Fellowship begins in February 2027 and concludes in July 2028.
Download the Michigan Leadership Fellows Cohort 4 Executive Summary for program details, eligibility, participation expectations, and application requirements.
Click here to download the Michigan Leadership Fellows Executive Summary