ELDP - Educational Leadership Development Progam

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Educational Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

The Educational Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is a year-long provincial leadership development program designed to prepare aspiring leaders for vice-principal and principal roles. Grounded in the Nova Scotia Educational Leadership Standards, the program combines provincial learning, school-based leadership experiences, mentorship, and reflective practice to develop the knowledge, skills, and professional judgment needed to lead effective, equitable, and inclusive learning communities.

The program is organized into two integrated courses delivered through four progressive learning cycles. Participants begin by building a foundation in relationships, communication, equity, inclusion, and how students learn before progressing to effective instructional and assessment practices, leadership impact, and leading school improvement. Learning is intentionally aligned with the school year, enabling participants to apply new knowledge and skills in authentic leadership contexts through school-based learning and mentor practicum experiences.

The ELDP includes ILA Course 1: Best Practices in Instruction. Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive credit for ILA Course 1, creating a pathway into the Instructional Leadership Academy (ILA) for those who choose to continue their leadership learning.

This program has an application process. If you are interested in applying, please join the waiting list and information will be shared with you in 2027. Applications are received in the spring for September start up.

The Educational Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is a provincial leadership development program for educators preparing for future vice-principal and principal roles in Nova Scotia.

The program is designed for teachers and other educators, including coaches, consultants and specialists, and department heads, who are interested in developing their leadership knowledge, skills, and readiness for school-based administration.

The ELDP combines provincial learning with regional mentorship and practical leadership experiences. Participants learn as part of a provincial cohort while applying their learning within authentic school leadership settings throughout the year.

The program is aligned with the Nova Scotia Educational Leadership Standards (ELS) and provides opportunities for participants to explore and develop the knowledge, competencies, and dispositions associated with effective educational leadership.

The ELDP is designed to help aspiring leaders move beyond learning about leadership to developing and applying leadership knowledge and skills in authentic educational settings.

Across the program, participants explore instructional and educational leadership while developing their capacity to reflect on their practice, work effectively with others, respond to leadership challenges, and make connections between leadership learning and the realities of school leadership.

Learning is strengthened through regional mentorship and practicum experiences. Working with an experienced principal mentor, participants have opportunities to observe leadership in practice, participate in appropriate leadership experiences, explore the thinking behind leadership decisions, ask questions, receive feedback, and reflect on their own developing leadership practice.

Throughout the ELDP, participants:

  • deepen their understanding of effective teaching, learning, and instructional leadership
  • develop knowledge and skills connected to the Educational Leadership Standards
  • explore authentic leadership situations, decisions, and challenges
  • apply their learning through regional practicum experiences
  • learn from experienced school leaders and ELDP instructors
  • reflect on their leadership strengths, growth, and readiness
  • build relationships and learn with aspiring leaders from across Nova Scotia

The ELDP provides an opportunity to develop a stronger understanding of what educational leadership looks like in practice while building the knowledge, confidence, and capacity needed for future leadership roles.

The ELDP runs from September through June and combines provincial virtual learning with regional, school-based mentorship and practicum experiences.

Participants complete two integrated leadership courses totalling 72 hours of synchronous learning. Learning continues between classes through asynchronous activities, readings, reflection, assignments, and the application of learning through practicum experiences.

Provincial classes are held virtually through Brightspace and scheduled outside the instructional day. The program includes 20 classes, typically three hours in length and held every second week. Participants learn as part of a provincial cohort, with two instructors working collaboratively across the integrated program.

Between September and May, participants also complete eight full-day regional practicum experiences with an experienced principal mentor. Practicums provide opportunities to observe leadership in action, participate in authentic leadership experiences, explore the thinking behind leadership decisions, and connect program learning to the day-to-day work of educational leaders.

Participants are expected to attend and actively engage in scheduled classes, complete learning and assignments between sessions, participate fully in all practicum experiences, and reflect on and demonstrate their developing leadership knowledge and practice.

The ELDP has a regional application and selection process. Applications are received centrally through PSAANS, then shared with regions for regional screening and interviewing of applicants.

Successful applicants, identified by each region, participate in the ELDP from September through June as part of a provincial cohort while completing their mentorship and practicum experiences in their own region.

A significant feature of the ELDP is its connection to the Instructional Leadership Academy (ILA). The ELDP includes ILA Course 1: Best Practices in Instruction as part of the program. Participants who successfully complete the ELDP therefore complete the first course of the six-course ILA program and have a pathway to continue to ILA Course 2.

Specific application timelines, program fees, cohort information, and other registration requirements are provided with each ELDP intake early spring of each year.

Course 1 lays the foundation for effective educational leadership by exploring the relationships between leadership, learning, and student success. Through the learning cycles Setting the Stage and Understanding the Learner, participants develop their leadership identity while strengthening their understanding of relationships, communication, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The course also explores principles of learning, brain science, student thinking, assessment and reporting, student success planning, culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, and systems thinking. Embedded throughout the course is ILA Course 1: Best Practices in Instruction, providing participants with a strong foundation in instructional leadership. Learning is supported through provincial classes, school-based leadership experiences, mentor practicum, and reflective practice.

Price: $995

Course 2 builds on the foundations established in Course 1 by focusing on the practical work of leading teaching, learning, and school improvement. Through the learning cycles Seeing the Teacher and Becoming the Leader, participants examine effective instructional and assessment practices, leading professional learning, building capacity for change and innovation, and strengthening their understanding of staffing, scheduling, hiring, budgeting, ethics, professionalism, and leadership readiness. Throughout the course, participants continue to apply their learning through school-based leadership experiences, mentor practicums, collaborative work, reflection, and portfolio development, building the confidence and professional judgment required to lead effective, equitable, and inclusive learning communities. ILA Course 1 continues and upon successful completion of the ELDP, participants receive credit for ILA Course 1, creating a pathway into the Instructional Leadership Academy (ILA) for those who choose to continue their leadership learning.

Price: $995

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Price: $1,980.00

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