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The school year is in full swing, and in addition to leaders I’ve been supporting in Grow Academies, Masterminds, and one-on-on coaching, I’ve also had the privilege of gathering with leaders in person.
This week I wanted to share about an opportunity I had recently to join my friend Chris LeGrande, Executive Director of Oklahoma’s secondary principal and middle-level education associations (OASSP & OMLEA), as Principal Matters sponsored a dinner for principals from my area of the state.
Several themes emerged from our time together. Here are three takeaways I thought may resonate with Principal Matters listeners and leaders:
- Belonging matters, not just for students, but for adults too. Beau Brannon, Union High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, shared an amazing system he and his teachers have created to track every student to make sure he/she has a caring adult connected to their outcomes. Listen in as Jen and I talk about some of the takeaways he’s learned from that effort.
- PLCs, when done well, can be wonderful. When done without fidelity, they can become toxic. Timothy Ray, Assistant Superintendent, Catoosa Public Schools, Oklahoma, shared vulnerable lessons on how his leadership team has reorganized their own meetings around teaching and learning in order to dive deeper into the same tasks their helping teachers navigate.
- AI is still top of mind for many leaders who are trying to figure out how to protect against its misuse while also learning how to manage it as a tool, not an end in itself. Amy Sanders, Sapulpa Public Schools, Oklahoma, shared ways she and her teachers are tackling the hard questions of keeping students safe while also not being afraid of learning ways to utilize technology as an instrument in learning.
As I like to say whenever I’m in a room with other leaders, “The smartest person in the room is the room.”
Jen and I also discuss some upcoming leadership development opportunities for listeners. as well as give some shout-outs to the following:
For Oklahoma leaders: Sign up for the OASSP/OMLEA Leadership & Learning Conference in Edmond, Oklahoma, October 28–29. Danny Steele and Phil Januszewski will be keynoting, along with other great leaders:
https://www.ccosa.org/page/oasspomlea-leadership-and-learning-conference
For all leaders: In September, I launched a virtual leadership series called Hats We Wear in partnership with First Educational Resources. We meet once a month. Even though we’ve already completed Session 1, it’s not too late to sign up for the remaining seven sessions. You’ll also receive the video from Session 1 so you can catch up in the meantime.
Want to learn more about Hats We Wear – Virtual PD Series or sign up? Go here:
Finally, Jen Schwanke will be at Louisiana’s principal’s association conference September 27-28, in Baton Rouge. If you’re there, make sure to tell her hello!
Listen to the full episode to hear us reflect on these and other ideas that emerged in today’s Monday Matters! As always, thank you for doing what matters! ~ Will
