The LASCO/Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Principal of the Year 2018, Howard Salmon has unveiled a specially designed online platform which will facilitate leadership training for new and budding principals.

Aptly titled ‘Beginning Principals Mentorship & Coaching Programme’, the project aims to help principals with zero to three years’ experience reduce the knowledge and leadership gap required to shape excellent institutions of learning.

“The goal is twofold,” noted Salmon. “To improve classroom instruction and, ultimately, student learning; and to build a principal’s instructional leadership capacity by helping that principal understand the needs of students and teachers and the best strategies to meet these needs.”

The programme was launched on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Mandeville Hotel.

Salmon outlined that his approach, a webinar series, was propelled by the desire to reach principals across the educational landscape without them having to travel to a central location, making it easier and cheaper for principals to engage in the different topics of discussion.

“It is really sharing life experiences as a principal over the years but not using the traditional approaches such as conference rooms or seminars, but using emerging technology,” explained Salmon.

LASCO Distributors Limited Brand Manager Renee Rose was part of the launch of what she described another industry-changing project.

“Earlier in August we witnessed Ingrid Peart Wilmot, reigning Teacher of the Year, make an impact with the launch of the LASCO Master Class programme, with similar objectives for teachers across Jamaica,” said Rose. “And we are delighted that Principal Salmon is now charting a new course for his colleagues.

“LASCO is happy to continue to support and be a part of making the plans of some of Jamaica’s finest educators come to fruition. We have no doubt that this project will be a success and reap the desired outcomes,” she added.

Salmon, who holds both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in education, has over 33 years of achievement and experience in developing productive students and administrators.

“I feel very strongly about this because years ago as a new principal, Mr Howard Salmon, my education officer, invested in me and so, whilst I bring greetings on behalf of the JTA, I also have to give my personal endorsement to this project,” said immediate past president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, Georgia Waugh-Richards.

Having experienced the challenges that come with leadership in education, Salmon said he will use the webinars to address topics such as recruiting practices, student welfare, parent intervention, strategies to motivate students and parents, current educational trends such as examinations, and a host of related topics.