Zillow is proud to partner with Challenge Seattle, Washington Roundtable, and the Association of Washington State Principals to support the Chief Education Officers (CEO) Project.
The CEO series aims to improve principal retention at public high schools in South King County and other local areas, and build bridges between our region’s schools and business community.
Senior executives from Zillow are paired up with high school principals to share their expertise and experience and provide mentorship over the course of six in-person sessions. Together, Zillow executives and principals tackle issues in executive leadership including creating culture, building a team, developing a business plan, and more.
More and more, principals are becoming the “CEOs” of schools: They establish culture, build leadership teams, engage with countless stakeholders, act as the face of their organization, articulate strategy, and more.
According to Challenge Seattle’s CEO Project, it takes seven to ten years to create meaningful change in a high school, but only one in four principals will be in the same school after five years. Without training and support, especially in foundational leadership topics, too many find themselves overwhelmed by the role.
“Principals strongly shape the conditions for high-quality teaching and are the prime factor in determining whether teachers stay in high-needs schools. High-quality principals, therefore, are vital to the effectiveness of our nation’s public schools, especially those serving the children with the fewest advantages in life. – The Wallace Foundation
Fewer than one-third of Washington state high school students go on to receive a post-secondary credential, while at least two-thirds of the region’s jobs require a degree or specialized skills. At Zillow, we want to help change this equation by inspiring students, supporting teachers, and collaborating with school leadership.
Giving back to the community where we live and work is an important part of who we are here at Zillow, and we are proud to join with other innovative employers in the region as participants in the CEO program.