The National Catholic School Leadership Program (NCSLP), developed and designed by ADAC, is a national professional formation experience designed for mission-driven Catholic school leaders.
Developing mission-driven Catholic school leaders
Blending faith formation, vocational leadership, professional skill-building, leadership well-being, and individualized coaching, NCSLP equips principals, heads of school, aspiring leaders, career changers, and diocesan or network staff with the clarity, confidence, and practical tools needed to lead schools that are:
- Deeply Catholic
- Boldly mission-driven
- Educationally excellent
- Institutionally sustainable
Rooted in NSBECS
Designed by a national team of Catholic education experts, NCSLP is grounded in the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS). It complements schools and networks that use NSBECS for accreditation and continuous improvement.
Program modules reflect the NSBECS Defining Characteristics of Catholic Schools and align with its four key domains:
- Mission and Catholic Identity
- Governance and Leadership
- Academic Excellence
- Operational Vitality
Who This Program is For
- Current principals and heads of school
- Aspiring and early-career leaders, including recent career changers
- Leaders overseeing NSBECS-based accreditation or improvement efforts
- Experienced administrators seeking renewal, growth, or targeted leadership formation
- Catholic school office and network professionals guiding their own principal or leadership cohorts
What School Leaders Gain
- A distinctly Catholic, vocation-centered approach to leadership
- NSBECS-aligned professional learning tailored to individual goals
- Reflective practice and strategies that strengthen well-being and promote grace-filled leadership
- Collaborative approaches to lead today’s Catholic schools
- Access to 20+ actionable lessons and 50+ customizable leadership tools and templates
- Individual or cohort-based coaching from a national network of distinguished Catholic school leaders
Services and Delivery Methods
1
Learning Directed by Arch/Diocesan or Network Facilitators
Virtual
Arch/dioceses or school networks running a cohort across multiple schools.
2
Individual Asynchronous Learning with Coaching
Virtual
Individual current or aspiring leaders who want flexible pacing plus personalized support.
3
Cohort Asynchronous Learning with Coaching
Virtual
Cohorts of 5–10 leaders seeking collaborative learning and shared coaching
4
Individual Synchronous Instructor-Led Learning
Virtual
New leaders, career changers, or those seeking highly structured, instructor-led formation
5
Learning Directed by Arch/Diocesan or Network Facilitators
Virtual
Arch/dioceses or school networks running a cohort across multiple schools.
Explore how the National Catholic School Leadership Program can support your leadership journey or your diocesan network. Submit the form below and Dan Ferris, Program Lead, NCSLP, will be in touch shortly.
