Across the country, the call for dynamic, well-prepared school leadership is growing louder and New York is stepping up in a big way. Leading this charge is Harpursville Central School District, the first in New York State to launch a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for school administrators. This groundbreaking initiative is helping redefine how we develop the next generation of principals and educational leaders.
“We’ve found this model to be incredibly effective,” says Harpursville’s superintendent, Heath Georgia. “As our program progresses, I highly recommend it to districts looking to capture someone already on staff with leadership qualities and help move them forward.”
Superintendent Georgia goes on to highlight the experience of Brian, the district’s current School Building Leader apprentice. “The depth and breadth of what Brian is doing far exceeds that of others in traditional coursework. He’s fully embedded, experiencing leadership in real time, discussing it daily with our administrative team, and applying what he’s learning immediately. That kind of immersion is powerful.”
Another advantage is Brian as a long time teacher in the district, maintains a connection to instruction and the classroom that deeply informs his leadership style. Harpursvile’s High School Principal Mrs.Kristine Conrow, “From day one, we had someone who already knew our students, our systems, and our community. Unlike my own part-time internship, this full-time role allowed him to be truly present, engaged, and a real part of the administrative team.”
Harpursville’s leadership isn’t occurring in a vacuum, it’s part of a growing national trend. North Dakota led the nation, creating the first school administrator apprenticeship pathway that blends rigorous academic preparation with hands-on, job-embedded leadership experience. This program, NY’s and other states investing in this model are gaining traction because they meet districts’ urgent need for effective school leaders while offering a more accessible, practical route to certification.
The Harpursville Registered Apprenticeship program coordinates the requirements for NYS Initial Administrative certification with the extended paid, on-the-job training requirements of an apprenticeship which align with the district’s workforce priorities. This coordination across state agencies ensures that apprentices graduate with real-world experience and credentials that open access to career advancement. During our conversation, Mr. Young expressed his gratitude to the district for investing in the program, noting that it has significantly eased the path toward earning a school administrator credential.
This is very different from the traditional approach. In NYS, typical traditional administrator preparation relies on a 450 hour internship requirement which is often achieved through planning periods, after school or some summer work and without additional pay. So what makes this approach different? In short: it’s fully embedded. Apprentices don’t just study school leadership, they live it. From day one, for a full year, they’re part of the district’s administrative team, learning alongside seasoned principals, leadership staff, and superintendents. This is more than professional development, it’s workforce development.
It's a Rap 
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