Central Office & Administrators Academy
ALAS's newest signature program looking to strengthen strategic leadership capacity, systems thinking, organizational management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
What is the COAA?
The Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) supports the continued leadership development of experienced building and central office leaders who are ready to expand their impact at the systems level.
This academy is designed for seasoned administrators, including veteran principals, directors, and central office leaders, who have moved beyond the early stages of leadership and are seeking to deepen their strategic influence across departments and district-wide initiatives.
Who is a good fit?
ALAS seeks to support seasoned building and central office administrators who are ready to strengthen their strategic leadership, deepen their systems thinking, and broaden their impact at the district level.
The selection process is highly competitive due to the limited number of participants within the cohort model. Ideally, candidates are veteran principals, directors, or central office leaders who are actively leading or contributing to district-wide initiatives.
Our Mission
The mission of the ALAS Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) is to provide experienced building and central office administrators who have moved beyond the foundational stages of leadership development with knowledge and skills necessary on the journey to the superintendency to serve all children with an emphasis on historically marginalized students.
Target Audience
For aspiring and current central office leaders ready to expand their impact.
Specifically designed for veteran principals, directors, and district leaders ready to elevate their influence across systems.
Key Outcomes
- ✓ Transition to district leadership
- ✓ Build trust with principals
- ✓ Lead with equity and impact
- ✓ Grow future leaders
- ✓ Collaborate with peers
Program Information
The Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) supports the continued leadership development of experienced building and central office leaders who are ready to expand their impact at the systems level.
This academy is designed for seasoned administrators who have moved beyond the early stages of leadership and are seeking to deepen their strategic influence across departments and district-wide initiatives.
Please read the information below for program requirements, selection criteria, selection decisions, and program session attendance.
Academy Curriculum
Transitioning Into District Leadership
Focus: Help participants process the shift from site-based leadership to district roles, including belonging, perception, and the different dynamics of entering their own vs. a new district.
Building Trust & Credibility
Focus: Equip coordinators/directors to earn trust and build credibility with the principals they support.
Supporting Learning Leaders
Focus: Position coordinators/directors as enablers of principals’ instructional leadership.
Leading Through Equity
Focus: Practice embedding equity into district leadership while influencing principals without direct authority.
Growing Future Leaders
Focus: Develop strategies to grow site and district pipelines, with coordinators/directors as leadership developers.
Thriving & Legacy
Focus: End with sustainability, wellness, and defining leadership legacy through trust and support.
In-person Graduation & Capstone Presentations
Selection Criteria
ALAS seeks accomplished and emerging system-level leaders who are committed to expanding their impact across departments and district-wide initiatives. The COAA is designed for experienced building and central office administrators who are ready to strengthen their strategic leadership, deepen their systems thinking, and enhance their ability to lead at scale. In addition, candidates should have:
- Served in a building level or district level leadership position for a minimum of 3 years
- A proven track record of leadership and/or management in an educational organization
- Ability to understand, lead school transformation
- High level of energy, determination, and perseverance to act as an advocate for students, staff and the community at-large
- Ability to learn quickly, possess analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work and succeed as a school system leader, in a school district that serves all children with an emphasis on Latino, Black and marginalized students
- Commitment to equity, excellence, for a high quality education for all students
- Passion for improving public education and a long-term commitment to PK-12 education
- Commitment to the mission and vision of ALAS
Program Session Attendance & Dates
Participants are required to attend program sessions held monthly beginning in October and ending in May of the following year.
The program consists of five (5) virtual sessions (4 hours each) and two (2) in-person sessions covering various content strands. Participants are provided required readings, assignments, and activities as part of each session.
Program Requirements
- All Central Office Administrator Academy participants must be members of ALAS.
- All COAA participants will pledge to attend all sessions of the ALAS COAA including the ALAS Education Summit.
- ALAS COAA participants will be required to pay a $2,500 registration fee upon acceptance within 30 days.
- ALAS will cover most meals provided at the in-person COAA sessions.
- COAA participants are required to self pay lodging and airfare to attend all COAA sessions.
- ALAS reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to these program requirements as circumstances may change from time to time.
Central Office & Administrators Academy
ALAS's newest signature program looking to strengthen strategic leadership capacity, systems thinking, organizational management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
What is the COAA?
The Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) supports the continued leadership development of experienced building and central office leaders who are ready to expand their impact at the systems level.
This academy is designed for seasoned administrators, including veteran principals, directors, and central office leaders, who have moved beyond the early stages of leadership and are seeking to deepen their strategic influence across departments and district-wide initiatives.
Who is a good fit?
ALAS seeks to support seasoned building and central office administrators who are ready to strengthen their strategic leadership, deepen their systems thinking, and broaden their impact at the district level.
The selection process is highly competitive due to the limited number of participants within the cohort model. Ideally, candidates are veteran principals, directors, or central office leaders who are actively leading or contributing to district-wide initiatives.
Our Mission
The mission of the ALAS Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) is to provide experienced building and central office administrators who have moved beyond the foundational stages of leadership development with knowledge and skills necessary on the journey to the superintendency.
Target Audience
For aspiring and current central office leaders ready to expand their impact.
Specifically designed for veteran principals, directors, and district leaders ready to elevate their influence across systems.
Key Outcomes
- ✓ Transition to district leadership
- ✓ Build trust with principals
- ✓ Lead with equity and impact
- ✓ Grow future leaders
- ✓ Collaborate with peers
Program Co-Directors
Dr. Lynmara Colón
Director of Student Opportunity and Multilingual Services
Jessica Gomez
Director of Continuous Improvement & Accountability
Program Information
The Central Office & Administrators Academy (COAA) supports the continued leadership development of experienced building and central office leaders who are ready to expand their impact at the systems level.
This academy is designed for seasoned administrators who have moved beyond the early stages of leadership and are seeking to deepen their strategic influence across departments and district-wide initiatives.
Please read the information below for program requirements, selection criteria, selection decisions, and program session attendance.
Academy Curriculum
Transitioning Into District Leadership
Help participants process the shift from site-based leadership to district roles, including belonging and perception.
Building Trust & Credibility
Equip coordinators/directors to earn trust and build credibility with the principals they support.
Supporting Learning Leaders
Position coordinators/directors as enablers of principals’ instructional leadership.
Leading Through Equity
Practice embedding equity into district leadership while influencing principals without direct authority.
Growing Future Leaders
Develop strategies to grow site and district pipelines, with coordinators/directors as leadership developers.
Thriving & Legacy
End with sustainability, wellness, and defining leadership legacy through trust and support.
In-person Graduation & Capstone Presentations
Selection Criteria
ALAS seeks accomplished and emerging system-level leaders who are committed to expanding their impact across departments and district-wide initiatives. In addition, candidates should have:
- Served in a building level or district level leadership position for a minimum of 3 years
- A proven track record of leadership and/or management in an educational organization
- Ability to understand, lead school transformation
- High level of energy, determination, and perseverance to act as an advocate for students, staff and the community at-large
- Ability to learn quickly, possess analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work and succeed as a school system leader, in a school district that serves all children with an emphasis on Latino, Black and marginalized students
- Commitment to equity, excellence, for a high quality education for all students
- Passion for improving public education and a long-term commitment to PK-12 education
- Commitment to the mission and vision of ALAS
Attendance & Requirements
Participants are required to attend program sessions held monthly beginning in October and ending in May of the following year. The program consists of five (5) virtual sessions and two (2) in-person sessions.
- All Central Office Administrator Academy participants must be members of ALAS.
- All COAA participants will pledge to attend all sessions including the ALAS Education Summit.
- Participants will be required to pay a $2,500 registration fee.
- COAA participants are required to self pay lodging and airfare to attend all COAA sessions.
Selection Decisions
All applications are reviewed by the ALAS COAA Selection Committee after the window closes on May 15, 2026.
Candidates selected to move forward in the application process will be notified of an interview.