The Illinois Story is part of a major effort at Wallace to improve university principal preparation programs and builds on 15 years of Wallace-supported research and experience about what makes for effective school leaders.

The University Principal Preparation Initiative seeks to explore how more university programs can improve their training so it reflects the evidence on how best to prepare effective principals. Seven universities are working with district and nonprofit partners as part of the four-year initiative to create new models for improving university principal training and learn lessons to be shared with the field.

All videos were produced by award-winning filmmaker Tod Lending.