School leadership was not something James Wheatley, assistant principal at Sussex Central High School and a University of Delaware alum, planned to pursue. But as he moved through his teaching career as a math specialist in the Indian River School District, he wanted to do more to help his students and colleagues reach their full potential.

“As a teacher, I saw how leadership at the building level could create meaningful and sustainable change,” Wheatley said. “I recognized that in order to break down barriers and implement innovative ideas at scale, I needed to be in a position where I could influence systems, not just individual classrooms.”

With those goals in mind, Wheatley pursued two programs in UD’s College of Education and Human Development: its online master’s in teacher leadership program for practicing educators and its Principal Preparation Program, an 18-month professional program for aspiring principals.

Now in his first year as assistant principal at Sussex Central High, Wheatley is using the skills he acquired through these programs to enact meaningful change. Recognizing that chronic tardiness and absenteeism continue to be significant barriers to education in Delaware, Wheatley worked to create a school-wide tardy tracker, identifying over 500 students with four or more tardies.

“While this initiative increased minor student referrals, it ultimately helps us keep our students learning in the classroom,” Wheatley said. “It helped reduce major infractions, such as in-school suspensions, by over 30%, which has been great to see.”

“From day one, Jimmy has demonstrated an incredible work ethic, a high level of organization, and a willingness to find ways to improve systems and processes through the thoughtful use of technology,” said David J. Carter, Sussex Central High School principal. “He is a quick learner and a great facilitator who reflects on his work, and is always looking for ways to grow and better support our students and staff.”

Wheatley continues to learn something new each day, diving deeper into the nuances of school climate, special education, discipline and other areas.

“In a school of nearly 2,000 students, I’ve been able to hit the ground running, moving beyond my comfort zones in instruction and coaching, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Wheatley said.

In this fast-paced role, he draws on the support of his Sussex community and his UD preparation.

“We have an awesome community in lower Sussex County within the Indian River School District,” Wheatley said. “It’s incredible to see the level of support not only from families, but also from higher education institutions like UD and leadership programs that encourage educators to step into administrative roles. We need strong administrators in our state, and teachers who are considering an administrative certification should absolutely explore UD’s Principal Preparation Program.”

The Principal Preparation Program, housed in UD’s School Success Center, prepares participants to make a difference through research-informed coursework, an action research project, a real-world internship experience and a statewide cohort model.

The program’s 10th anniversary cohort – a group of 24 aspiring leaders – graduated in December 2025, joining alumni across the state. About two-thirds of the program’s nearly 150 graduates are currently in leadership roles across Delaware, with others engaged in the application and interview process.

The program has made such an impact that it received the 2026 Superstars in Education and Training Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in March.

“Both the teacher leadership program and the Principal Preparation Program were critical in my journey to becoming a principal,” Wheatley said. “They are powerful programs because they’re grounded in the real data and real work that you’re already doing in your school or district.”

Wheatley appreciated the programs’ emphasis on reflection, which influenced how he approaches his work at Sussex Central High. “The programs require you to reflect on the work you’re doing every day, document it and be intentional about it,” Wheatley said. “That reflection and structure are now embedded in my daily leadership practice. In that way, both programs change you intrinsically and continue to influence how I lead.”

The Principal Preparation Program’s cohort model also helped him succeed. This approach allows a group of Delaware educators to move through the program together, learning with each other during and after the program.

“I still talk to many of the people in my cohort almost weekly in group threads, and we regularly check in on each other,” Wheatley said. “And I still meet with my mentor monthly. That continued connection has been incredibly helpful, especially with how much can happen in the day-to-day work of school leadership.”

To learn more about UD’s graduate programs in education or the School Success Center’s Principal Preparation Program, go to cehd.udel.edu.