About TPA

As the ONLY association dedicated to serving elementary and middle-level principals, our sole purpose is to help you, your teachers, and your school succeed.

We connect you with your peers

• Connect with your peers on TPA/NAESP’s social media channels
• Participate in NAESP’s nationally acclaimed Mentor Program
• Get a member discount TPA’s State Conference and for NAESP’s Annual Conference, where you’ll rub shoulders with the leading experts in education and connect with thousands of motivated peers.
• Search job openings and post your résumé anonymously, nationwide.

Join today! There’s never been a better time to link up with your colleagues and reap the benefits and strength of your greatest supporter — TPA/NAESP!

We support your profession

In a world that is litigious and complex, where decisions in Nashville and Washington D.C., directly impact the quality of your professional and personal life, there’s no reason you should go it alone.

• $2 million of individual professional liability coverage and up to $10,000* for job protection legal counsel, you can relax and do your job without looking over your shoulder.
• We’re your greatest advocate in Nashville and Washington D.C., making sure the interests of principals are at the table, whether it’s school funding, evaluation standards, education policy matters, or legislative issues.

We feed your passion

We know that time is your greatest challenge, so we cull through the latest data and research to find the gems that are relevant to you, your teachers, and your school. We make your job easier with:

• Tennessee Principal and Principal magazine — find timely articles and promising practices to share, and gain the perspectives you need to lead your learning community efficiently.
• Timely, vetted online resources — Keep up with the latest leadership and education trends in our twice-weekly Principal Insights newsletter, and get ready-to-use resources for you and your staff in our monthly Communicator newsletter.
• Legislative updates — Stay up-to-date with all of the political decisions being made in Nashville and on the Hill that impact you, your teachers, and your students.
• Free professional development webinars, online learning, and Virtual Book Talks — You and your staff can tap into knowledge from the leading names in the field.
• Topical handouts for parents — Once a month, receive a downloadable Report to Parents, ready to go in English and Spanish.
• National Panel of New Principals — Visit this convenient, one-stop site for tips and vital information for new principals.
• Plus discounts on membership and materials from the American Student Council Association, savings on professional development opportunities, and grant opportunities.

*Benefit starts with $1,000, with an additional $1,000 for every year of membership up to a maximum of $10,000.

About TPA

The Tennessee Principals Association (TPA) was founded in 1939 as a support system for Tennessee school leaders.  Over the decades, TPA has evolved as the premier professional association for K-8 Tennessee principals as well as district leaders. 

Dr. Brian K. Partin is the Executive Director of TPA.  Dr. Partin is a veteran educator with twenty-five years of experience and a former president (2017-2018) of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).