September 1997 Newsletter
Volume 10, Number 1
Future Leaders Project Addresses Administrator Shortage
Across the state, in both large and small school systems, there are reports of fewer and fewer applicants for open administrative positions. Data from the North Dakota Teacher’s Retirement office reveal that 83 current administrators are eligible for retirement. Every year thereafter, another 25-30 become eligible. Is this a looming crisis or a normal cycle of supply and demand with typical peeks and valleys? The answer probably is a little of both. However, the LEAD Center and other concerned organizations are taking steps aimed at preventing a crisis and, at the same time, addressing the need to identify, develop, and support the next generation of school leaders. Already being implemented is a leadership identification process, called the Leadership Early Assessment Program (LEAP), which helps aspiring school leaders acquire objective information about their leadership skills and assists them in their professional development planning. The process is staffed by experienced practitioners, called "assessors," who have been specially trained to observe, record, and analyze behavior, provide behaviorally specific feedback, and write comprehensive follow-up reports. During the coming year, two LEAP assessor training sessions are planned to compliment the nearly fifty people already trained in the process. Supporting the growth and development of aspiring and early-career school leaders through mentoring is another component of the Future Leaders Project. Presently, about fifty current administrators have been trained in mentoring and coaching "best practices." Although informal mentoring is going on, these relationships are happening by chance instead of on purpose since there are no statewide mentoring plans or systems in place. This problem was the central point of a LEAD-sponsored conference held in Bismarck this summer where participants learned a problem solving process called "Paradigm Mastery." Developed by Joel Barker, author and futurist, this process brings new light and understanding to difficult problems by exploring the concept of paradigms (the way we perceive, understand, and interpret our surroundings and events). During the two-day event, participants learned the principles of the process and deepened their learning by focusing on a real problem, how to develop, implement, and measure a statewide system for mentoring aspiring and early-career educational leaders. One of the principles of Paradigm Mastery is to enlist the aid of "paradigm partners," people not part of your organization to challenge existing paradigms. Such a group of "partners" did exactly that during the conference. These "partners" are interested in education and developing people, but do not have paradigms about what can not be done. In attendance were a number of business/industry representatives; graduate students who will be the recipients of mentoring; key university personnel; representatives of DPI, NDEA, and the school boards association; and administrators previously trained in the mentoring process. This rich blending of ideas will result in a strategic plan for a statewide mentoring and coaching system. The plan will be developed and refined over the next several months and will be implemented beginning in the spring of 1998.
Viola LaFontaine Elected LEAD Board President
Dr. Viola LaFontaine will serve as president of the ND LEAD Center Board of Directors during the 1997-98 year. LaFontaine has held several administrative positions in the Belcourt school system and presently is the superintendent of schools. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary and holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of North Dakota. As president of the ND LEAD Center, she will lead a thirteen-member board of directors in setting policy and providing direction for educational leadership development in North Dakota. "LEAD has been so futuristic in providing a needed vision for where educational leadership ought to be," LaFontaine said, commenting on her new role. "It’s exciting to be part of this organization. What better place to be than with people who are out front setting the educational leadership agenda."
Teacher Learning Centers and LEAD to Collaborate on Training Project
The LEAD Center is a recipient of a school improvement grant, awarded during the past legislative session to develop training programs in cooperation with the Teacher Learning Centers (TLC’s). "This was an innovative way for the Legislature to encourage the LEAD Center and Teacher Centers to work together on school improvement," said Sen. Ray Holmberg, Grand Forks, sponsor of this section of the education funding bill. LEAD and TLC representatives will meet in September to begin discussing mutual interests and options for collaboration. It is expected that a plan will be announced some time in early 1998.
Leadership Early Assessment Program (LEAP)
a "Diagnostic Tune Up" for Beginning Principals
Beginning principals who want an objective assessment of their leadership skills and advice on professional development planning will want to take advantage of the Leadership Early Assessment Program (LEAP). Open to beginning principals (any level) with three or less years experience on the job, LEAP is a one-day event designed to provide developmental feedback to help build skills needed to be effective educational leaders. The process involves a series of activities that measure administrative, interpersonal, and communication skills as well as self-knowledge. Participants receive immediate verbal feedback on their leadership skills, including strengths and potential derailers, along with suggestions for professional developmental planning. About two weeks after the initial one-day event, participants engage in a follow-up meeting with one of the LEAP staff to begin work on a personal development plan for growth in educational leadership. Participants receive a written summary of demonstrated strengths and potential derailers along with guidelines for preparing a personal development plan. Since LEAP staff are experienced practitioners, another benefit of LEAP is the opportunity for mentoring relationships to evolve. One of the most common phrases used by LEAP participants to describe what they liked most about the experience is, "being treated so professionally by people who are genuinely interested in helping me grow professionally." LEAP will be offered in Bismarck on October 27 and in Fargo on November 3, 1997. See the registration form inside or call the LEAD Center for more details.
Time Management (Franklin Planner) Course
Offered Concurrent with NDCEL Conference
Want to maximize your time? How about getting organized, getting control of your time, finding better balance in your life, earning graduate credit, and attending the NDCEL Fall Conference all at once. This is the opportunity participants in this year’s NDCEL Fall Conference will have by taking advantage of the "conference within a conference" format. For the past four years a LEAD Center class has been offered in conjunction with NDCEL Fall Administrators’ Conference. This year’s offering will be Time Management for Increased Productivity, sometimes called the "Franklin Planner" class. Participants receive a substantial discount by registering for both the conference and the time management class. Taking part in the class only and not the conference also is an option. Time management is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8th (the afternoon prior to the conference), from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and concludes the following day, October 9th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Participation in the Time Management class is considered a substitute for the break-out sessions of the Fall Conference. A registration form is inside for those wishing to attend Time Management only and not the NDCEL Fall Conference. Those wishing to participate in both should use the Conference Registration form distributed by NDCEL.
Professional Development Program Highlights
Educational Leaders will have numerous professional development opportunities during the 1997-98 year. Beginning in September, the first phases of Instructional Leadership, the Superintendent Leadership Academy, and the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People will be offered. Instructional Leadership is a three-phase course appropriate for educational leaders who supervise the instructional process. Participants learn human learning theory, how to plan and use developmentally appropriate coaching and conferencing strategies, and how to improve their skills through collegial coaching. The Superintendent Leadership Academy, another three-phase course, focuses on topics such as visionary leadership, managing and resolving conflict, producing champions as building and academic leaders, managing diversity and leading change, goal setting and strategic planning, hiring the right people and coaching for growth, servant leadership, and getting the most out of meetings. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a two-part program that aims to develop principle-centered leaders who understand and are able to apply Seven Habits principles and processes at both the personal and professional levels. Program participants learn foundational principles that apply to all the habits along with principles, paradigms, and processes associated with each of the seven habits. October offerings include Time Management for Increased Productivity (see related article), more Seven Habits classes, the first of two LEAP Assessment Centers (see related article), and the first of two Mentoring and Coaching training sessions. Instructional Leadership Phase 4 is scheduled in December and the multi-phase programs will continue throughout the year. Several programs are in the planning stages for spring and early summer. Planning for Results (formerly titled Leader 123) will focus on planning, developing, implementing, measuring, and delegating skills for educational leadership. Also planned is Confident Communication with Impact, a communication/leadership skill development program utilizing real school problems. This program challenges participants to lead and communicate their message in dyadic, small-group, and large-group settings. Educational Facilities Planning will be offered at Fargo and Bismarck during April, 1998, to assist schools that may be contemplating renovation or building projects in the near future. Finally, the LEAD Center and the South Dakota Administrator Association are planning several joint sessions to train LEAP assessors. See registration forms inside and the events calendar for more details.