Registration is Open for the 2026-2027 Transformational Leaders’ Network for Principals; New This Year is An Opportunity for Assistant Building Leaders

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Transformational Leaders’ Network (TLN) is a practical, relationship-centered professional learning opportunity for principals to enhance their leadership practice and strengthen outcomes for schools and communities. The TLN is delivered through a series of in-person and remote/regional meetings offered across the state during the school year. All principals, from first-year principals to veterans and from large suburban schools to small rural schools, are invited to participate.

New this year is an additional TLN cohort opportunity, “Strengthening Leadership from Within,” that is specifically designed for assistant principals, deans of students, and other leading members of building-level leadership teams. This opportunity offers two in-person sessions and one virtual connection, facilitated by Maine’s Transformational Leadership Network (TLN). See details about this additional offering below.
 
The 2026-2027 TLN theme is “The Principal Effect and the Power of Mattering.”

This opportunity will reflect current research regarding principal effectiveness, professional learning, leadership sustainability, emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and school climate, while honoring the realities of increasingly complex school leadership.

Principals who participate can expect:

• Continuous job-embedded professional development for an increasingly complex role.
• A collaborative learning community, as participants tackle authentic leadership challenges together.
• Learning what emotional intelligence, mattering, and leadership presence look like in practice.
• Strategies for strengthening school climate and culture by building trust, establishing stronger connections, communicating openly, and supporting and engaging staff more effectively.
• Learning about creating steadier school environments during periods of challenge and change through sustainable and systems-oriented leadership.
• Learning about navigating conflict, pressure, and complexity.
• Learning about staff ownership, increasing collective efficacy, supporting leadership succession, and strengthening the workforce.

The 2026-2027 TLN schedule is as follows:

Full-day, in-person meetings (8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.):

• September 18, 2026 – Lewiston
• October 23, 2026 – Bangor
• December 4, 2026 – Augusta
• January 22, 2027 – Brunswick
• April 30, 2027 – Bangor

Remote and/or regional meetings:

• Week of November 15, 2026
• Week of March 1, 2027

A virtual extension session will also be offered the week after each in-person session as an opportunity for a deeper dive into discussion topics (or for those unable to attend the in-person session). 

Former TLN participants have shared the following testimonials:
 
“[The TLN] really changed how I support teachers, how I build a more positive school culture.” – TLN Principal, 2024-2025

“It’s easier to stay and fight the daily battles, but leaving for [the TLN] makes me better when I come back.” – TLN Principal, 2025-2026

“I see [the TLN] as kind of a ‘boots on the ground’ experience that you don’t get until you’re in it. … It’s about recognizing the leader as a whole person, understanding that emotional well-being is a key component of strong leadership.” – TLN Principal, 2024-2025

“Every time I leave, I have something I can use right away.” – TLN Principal, 2025-2026

“We dream together about what education can be and walk out the door refreshed and ready to take on the next day.” – TLN Principal, 2023-2024

The cost of the TLN remains at $295 per participant for the full year of professional learning. This includes all TLN content, materials, and meals for in-person meetings. Participants will be responsible for covering their own travel.

Please note that if you are the leader of an identified school under Maine’s Model of School Supports (MMSS) (TSI-Targeted School Improvement, ATSI-Additional Targeted School Improvement, CSI-Comprehensive School Improvement), you are eligible to have registration fees covered. Contact Maine DOE Teacher Excellence, Recruitment, and Retention Coordinator Christina O’Neal at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov for a discount code to cover your registration fees.

Scholarship funding will be available to supplement the costs of travel, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing need, paid to school administrative units (SAUs), and according to specific eligibility qualifications. Need is based on free and reduced-price meal qualifications under Chapter 223, subchapter 7, or the percentage of students identified as economically disadvantaged for subsidy purposes under Chapter 606-B. If interested in learning more about scholarship funding, please email Christina O’Neal at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov.

Click here to register for the 2026/2027 TLN Opportunity.

Strengthening Leadership from Within: A Leadership Series for Assistant Principals, Dean of Students, Lead members of Leadership Teams
 
The Maine DOE has identified a need to offer relationship-centered professional learning opportunities for school leaders beyond principals, including assistant principals, deans of students, and lead members of building-level leadership teams, to enhance their leadership practice and strengthen outcomes for schools and communities. TLN is pleased to offer a new leadership series geared toward assistant building leadership, with two in-person sessions and one virtual connection, facilitated by Maine’s Transformational Leadership Network.

Session 1 (in person) November 6, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., location TBD
Leading Beyond Position: Building Presence, Influence, and Leadership Identity

Assistant principals, Dean of Students, Leadership Team member(s) will explore:

• Transitioning from expert practitioner to systems leader
• Emotional intelligence and leadership presence
• Building trust and credibility
• Supporting adults while managing competing priorities
• Understanding influence beyond authority

Session 2 (90 min. virtual connection) February 5, 2027
Learning from Practice: Conversations with Maine Principals

Participants will engage in facilitated conversations centered on authentic leadership challenges, including:

• Difficult conversations
• Managing complexity and middle-management pressures
• Supporting school culture
• Building staff leadership
• Protecting sustainability in leadership work

Session 3 (in person) May 14, 2027, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., location TBD
Creating Conditions Where Others Grow

Participants will explore:

• Building teacher leadership
• Strengthening staff and student mattering
• Shared decision-making
• Developing climate and culture
• Leadership succession and sustainability

Through this work, TLN intends to strengthen Maine’s leadership pipeline while reinforcing the belief that effective leadership development begins long before the principalship itself.

The cost of the Leadership Series for Assistant School Leaders will be $120 per participant. This includes all content, materials, and meals for in-person meetings. Participants will be responsible for covering their own travel.

Click here to register for the Strengthening Leadership from Within TLN Opportunity.

“Professional learning opportunities for school leaders can build leadership capacity and develop leaders’ competence across the full range of their responsibilities—empowering them to foster environments in which adults and students thrive.” Learning Policy Institute & Wallace Foundation (2026)

With questions, please contact Christina O’Neal, Maine DOE Educator Excellence Coordinator, at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov.ESEA Title IIA funds received from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $138,676.02, of which 79% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ED or the U.S. government.

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