That kind of learning environment is created by school leaders with the vision and skill to motivate an entire school community. UMKC PLUS (Pathway to Leadership in Urban Schools) is a two-year principal certification and master’s degree program for talented educators who want to become transformational school leaders. By studying concrete skills and practicing them in a real school setting, our residents learn to create supportive learning environments where all students can thrive.
After an intensive summer training, PLUS residents spend two years in a local district or charter school developing a team of teachers, under the guidance of an expert leadership coach.
Residents who demonstrate an ability to improve instruction and increase student learning earn their principal certification and a master’s degree. UMKC PLUS is building a network of locally developed school leaders who are dedicated to the success of every student in Kansas City.
Refer a Candidate
As a PLUS resident, you can earn one of two building-level certification degrees offered by UMKC:
Review more details about enrollment and program participation.
View our Leaders
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation which funds UMKC PLUS, was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman. The Kauffman Foundation is based in Kansas City, MO, and is among the largest private foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $2 billion. The foundation’s vision is to foster a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens in their communities.
The Hall Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that makes grants to community programs in the greater Kansas City area.
The Sherman Family Foundation is dedicated to causes, in and around Kansas City, that enhance human dignity and unlock individual potential. It supports, protects and cherishes effective schools and education programs that focus on children who live in poverty.
The Walton Family Foundation is working to expand opportunities and empower children and families with educational options. Since 1992, we have invested more than $1.3 billion in K-12 education and supported a quarter of the 6,700 charter schools created in the United States.
TNTP operates the national network of PLUS programs that UMKC PLUS belongs to. TNTP launched the first PLUS program in Philadelphia in 2013, and now trains school leaders in seven sites nationwide. A national nonprofit founded by teachers, TNTP works at every level of the public education system to attract and train talented teachers and school leaders, ensure rigorous and engaging classrooms, and create environments that prioritize great teaching and accelerate student learning.
We continuously add school partners, so please check back for the latest additions.
