Some 50 new principals of South Carolina schools will participate in the 19th annual School Leadership Executive Institute-Principal Induction Program July 18 to 22 at Coastal Carolina University.

The program is designed exclusively for first-year principals to help them develop leadership and presentation skills.

The academy gives participants an opportunity to bond with other first-year principals, veteran principals and experts in the field. Each participant is paired with an experienced principal who serves as a mentor. Follow-up meetings throughout the year provide additional training in leadership and management skills and serve as a forum for exchanging ideas.

The five-day summer institute will include seminars conducted by state and local experts on such topics as school governance, accountability, finance, professional development and ethical administration.

Schools from 25 school districts across the state are represented, including Abbeville, Aiken Area 1, Anderson 3 and 5, Bamberg 2, Berkeley, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Colleton ,Darlington, Dillon 3, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood 51, and Horry.

Other districts are Kershaw, Lexington 1, 2 and 3, Orangeburg Consolidated, Richland District 2, and Spartanburg 2, 6 and 7.

The Principal Induction Program is sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Professional Development in conjunction with Progress Energy.

The State of South Carolina requires newly-appointed principals to attend a summer institute to prepare for their new jobs.