New Principal Toolbox

The primary purpose of the Missouri Leadership Development System (MLDS) is the development and support of effective school leaders. Effective school leadership is an essential factor to ensure equitable access to excellent education for all Missouri students.

MLDS Mission: 

The Missouri Leadership Development System is a comprehensive research-based program which ensures every student in Missouri will attend school with an effective and confident leader by developing, supporting, and refining the leadership capacity of all Missouri school principals.

MLDS Vision:

•MLDS is a national model for continuous leadership development.

•MLDS is known, trusted, sought-after professional development and support for ALL Education Leaders in Missouri.

•100% participation in MLDS by Missouri Principals.

MLDS Core Values:

Equity (statewide consistency), Fidelity, Sustainability, Relevance, High Quality

MLDS is implemented statewide through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the nine Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDC). The Central RPDC serves 14 counties in the West Central Missouri area in and around the University of Central Missouri. MLDS uses a curriculum designed by and for Missouri principals. The topics covered in each level of MLDS are topical, emergent, and proven to be of great use to new and developing principals.

MLDS is a competency-based system rooted in five transformational domains. MLDS seeks to support leaders as visionary, instructional, managerial, relational, and innovative. The system is further organized into experience levels. The Emerging Level is intended for principals or assistant principals in their first and second year of leadership experience. The Developing Level is for principals or assistant principals in their third and fourth years. The third year of MLDS encompasses the Missouri Leadership Academy Experience (including the Outdoor Leadership Experience). More advanced principals can take part in the Transformational Level of MLDS curriculum.

Participants in the Central Region MLDS have access to regional meetings, conferences, coaching labs, one-to-one mentoring (at the Emerging Level), and online events.

This flyer gives some details about MLDS. We invite you to reach out to the Central MLDS Specialists if you have further questions.

For testimonial information, see our MLDS Impact page.

“An effective principal’s impact is stronger and broader than previously thought, making it ‘difficult to envision’ a higher return on investment in K–12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership.” (Wallace, 2021) 

Over 1,600 principals across Missouri are advancing their leadership learning through MLDS. The idea of being the lead learner is not just a convenient notion, it sets the tone for adult learning in your building.

MLDS provides school leaders with three important development tools:

• Leadership Learning

• Implementation Support

• Peer Networking

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT MLDS? Click here to learn about the transformative impact of MLDS.

"I firmly believe the Missouri Leadership Development System is a necessary and positive experience for all of Missouri’s school leaders. The learning process of being a strong leader cannot stop with the earning of a degree. As we face a variety of challenges in our school, we need leaders who understand how to lead through difficult times, maintain a strong and positive school culture, and connect with other leaders for problem-solving in the region and the state. I would strongly urge all superintendents to provide their principals with the opportunity for this experience. A few days a year can make the difference for a school and its students for a long time." Steve Ritter, Superintendent-Warrensburg R-VI School District.

"Growing educators is a passion of mine! I believe that supporting new educators doesn’t stop at classroom teachers. The MLDS program provides this support to new administrators. As a former MLDS participant and a current MLDS mentor, being a part of this support system has allowed me to grow as a building administrator and now have the opportunity to support new administrators. It is not breaking news that education continues to be a challenging, yet rewarding field to work in. The professional development and relationships that are made through MLDS become a resource and lifeline." Heather Shaffer, Principal-Warrensburg R-VI School District.

• Plan for and Register for MLDS 1

  • For first-year principals and assistant principals, MLDS 1 is the initial phase of MLDS engagement

  • Visit with your superintendent or supervisor about the time needed away from your building. There is no cost to your or your district for MLDS 1.

  • Register here for participation in MLDS 1 which includes the following activities:

    • Tuesday, July 28, 2026: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. UCM Campus. Breakfast & Lunch provided.

    • Tuesday, September 29, 2026:  8:30 am to 3:00 pm. UCM Campus. Breakfast & Lunch provided.

    • Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Coaching Lab. Location TBA. All day.

    • Wednesday, January 13, 2027: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. UCM Campus. Breakfast & Lunch provided.

    • Tuesday, February 16, 2027. Coaching Lab. Location TBA. All day.

  • Your Central Region MLDS Specialists will arrange for an experienced and trained mentor from outside your district. You will continue your mentor/mentee relationship throughout this year and through your second year. DESE requires mentoring for your first two years of administrative experience. Beginning with 2025-2026, mentoring will be facilitated by a partnership of MLDS, MAESP, or MOASSP. 

• Plan for and register for the New Principals Conference

  • The New Principals Conference is held each year and is sponsored by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) and the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MOASSP)

  • The New Principals Conference will be held at the Courtyard by Marriot, 3301 Lemone Insdustrial Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201

  • Register at MAESP or MOASSP websites.

• Consider joining professional organziations.

Membership in professional organizations provides valuable networking that is so very important to your development as a leader. At the heart of all of these organizations are the Regional Groups that provide access to statewide and nationwide organizations.

• • • State-wide Groups

      • Missouri Assocation of Elementary School Principals

      • Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals

    • Regional Groups

      • 2025-2026 Central MAESP: Becky Drummond, Alexander Elementary (Slater), President - bdrummond@slaterschools.net

      • 2025-2026 Central MOASSP: Lesie Brown, Knob Noster High School, President - lbrown@knobnoster.k12.mo.us

    • National Groups (Your statewide group can facilitate your membership)

      • National Association of Elementary School Principals

      • National Association of Secondary School Principals

• Maintain Your Mentor/Mentee Log

To support the statutory two-year mentoring requirement, MLDS 1 and MLDS 2 enrollees will be provided access to a digital mentoring log. This Google Sheet will be shared with both you and your mentor, and should be updated collaboratively throughout the year.

While your mentor will likely assist in tracking your progress, it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain the log. A minimum of 20 hours is required each year; however, we encourage you to continue logging hours beyond that threshold as evidence of your professional growth.

For your records, we also recommend keeping both a digital and paper copy of your log to document your mentoring experience. Your MLDS Specialists can answer any questions about your log.

• Use Your Mentor!

Your MLDS Specialists will arrange for the services of an experienced and trained mentor if you and your district choose to do so. Our MLDS Mentor Training is designed to help mentors maximize the guidance they provide to you.  MLDS mentors are from outside your district and are specially trained to offer supportive coaching and valuable feedback. Your mentor will serve you for two years. You and your mentor will log your interactions as evidence of the mentoring required by DESE in each of your first two years as a principal or assistant principal. We encourage you to make full use of your mentor by calling on them frequently throughout your first two years. Many of our mentors report that their relationship continues well beyond the required time period. Your mentor is there to help, coach, provide feedback, and offer guidance just for you!

• Are You Changing Districts?

As you transition into your new role, we want to encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the summer months. This is an important time for planning, preparation, and support, and we’re here to help whenever you need it. If your email address changes as you move to a new district, please be sure to update us as soon as possible. Keeping your contact information current ensures you continue receiving important updates, resources, and opportunities tied to your development. Our enrollment process is through  Frontline (My Learning Plan). Be sure to  enroll in MLDS activities using an email address that will follow you to your new school.