Description of Events: Tuesday, June 20th
Farmer’s Market, Circus Room, 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. In an old-fashioned farmer’s market style, participating districts and organizations will showcase current programs and practices that are improving school leadership and its impact on teaching and learning.
IL-SAELP Presentation, Old Main Room, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. IL-SAELP staff will present information on the Leadership Academy as well as leadership development initiatives in the state. Topics will include changes in state policy as a result of Senate Bill 860, IL-SAELP’s work within the network districts, and the future initiatives for IL-SAELP.
Workshop with Gary Bloom, Old Main Room, 12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Gary Bloom will present on his work with communities of practice done through the New Teacher Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz. He currently serves as Associate Director of the New Teacher Center at UCSC. Gary has 23 years of K-12 education experience, having served as a bilingual teacher, principal, director of curriculum, and assistant superintendent. He served as the superintendent of the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District, known for its innovative programs such as graduation exhibitions, a teacher-led high school, and teacher peer review. Currently, Gary is supporting a number of urban school districts and states in designing and implementing coaching-based leadership induction programs, and in increasing the capacity of principals to serve as instructional leaders.
Session with LEAD-Springfield, Old Main Room, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. LEAD-Springfield will present a session integrating various articles and other resources that fit with the Academy and the work that is being done within the IL-SAELP district network centered around building learning communities for leadership development.
District Team Reflection Time, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Before convening for dinner, district team representatives will have the opportunity to gather with their fellow team members to reflect on what they learned from the day’s activities. Meeting space is available in the Old Main Room, Spotlight Room, and Founder’s Suite.
Dinner at Central Station, 220 E. Front Street, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. To cap off the day, dinner will be held at Central Station Cafe with a cocktail reception following at The Loft. Directions to Central Station are included in the program insert.
“Learning comes more from giving than from receiving. By reflecting on what we do, by giving and articulating our craft knowledge, we make meaning, we learn.” ~ Roland Barth
Description of Events: Wednesday, June 21st
Time to Reconnect, Old Main Room, 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Academy participants will reconvene and begin the day reconnecting with others they met on the first day as a networking and engagement activity.
Breakfast with Ginny Wiley, Old Main Room, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Ginny Wiley, who has been the president of Pegasus Communications, Inc. since 1996, is committed to collaborating with others to move the concepts and tools of systems thinking and organizational learning out into the world in order to improve our organizations, institutions, and relationships. Pegasus Communications hosts the annual Systems Thinking in Action Conference, now in its 16th year, and publishes newsletters, numerous books, articles, guides and videos. Prior to joining Pegasus, Ginny worked at GKA, a systems thinking consulting organization, as a consultant and trainer, and at the Huenefeld Company, a consulting firm focused on the strategy, management, and marketing needs of book publishers.
Breakout Sessions, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
World Café, Old Main Room, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Following the breakout sessions, attendees will participate in a World Café format that will allow them to discuss with others what they have learned, brainstorm potential changes they want to make in their leadership behavior and practices, or changes they want to make at their school or district.
Workshop with CEC Coaches, Old Main Room, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Aligning with the work of Gary Bloom, CEC coaches Drs. Sharon Kramer and Pam Scherzer will present a workshop on how to coach leaders and build learning communities within one’s school or district.
Dr. Sharon Kramer served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Kildeer Countryside School District in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. With over 35 years of service, she was instrumental with facilitating professional development primarily focused on standards-based learning and teaching, and understanding and utilizing data to improve learning.
Dr. Pam Scherzer is a former elementary school principal with over 35 years of service to public education. Having served as a principal for 14 years, she now works as a consultant to school districts focusing on organizational and staff development.
District Team Working Time, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. District team representatives will have one final opportunity to gather with their fellow team members to reflect on what they learned from the Academy’s activities. Meeting space is available in the Old Main Room, Spotlight Room, and Founder’s Suite.
Assessment of Leadership Academy, Old Main Room, 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Before departing, participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on Academy activities.
