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va-Lead is an exciting new joint venture between e-Lead and the Virginia State Action for Education Leadership Project (SAELP), which is funded by The Wallace Foundation and housed at Virginia Commonwealth University.

SCOPE - Statewide Communities of Practice for Excellence | University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies Statewide K-12 Advisory Council in cooperation with the school divisions of Chesterfield, Fairfax, Fauquier, Hanover, Hopewell, Loudoun, Lynchburg, Manassas Park, Poqouson, Prince William, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Rockbridge, Salem City, Staunton, and Virginia Beach. (The LEAD Fairfax program is a strategic partner and the Virginia Beach Leaders Mentoring Leaders program is a contributing partner to program content.)

Program Description

The program is designed to develop effective leadership skills for intact cohorts of individuals from participating school divisions. Cohort I (2005-2007) will be comprised of current principals and assistant principals and Cohort II (2006-2008) will be comprised of additional principals and assistant principals selected by their school divisions as high potential leaders. In a series of 12 one-day seminars scheduled over a two-year period, each cohort will participate in seminars organized under the broad themes of Leading People and Leading Learning. Session topics include: LEADING PEOPLE -Understanding Self: A Foundation for Understanding Others; Powerful Communication; Professional Learning Community – Belief Systems; Building Climate; Building Culture; Initiating and Managing Change; Mentoring and Coaching - LEADING LEARNING -History of Educational Reform; Leadership Roles – Building Trust; Principal as Instructional Leader; Planning for Success; Supporting Job-Embedded Professional Learning; Using Data to Improve Student Performance; Using Teacher Performance Evaluation for Growth; Program Auditing; Personal Leadership Growth - Knowledge, Service, and Ethics

Virginia Standard(s) Addressed

SCOPE systematically addresses all Virginia Uniform Performance Standards for Administrative Personnel and all ISLLC standards.

Program Goals and Objectives

By the end of this program the participants will demonstrate ability to apply an enhanced knowledge base and skill set to sustain and enhance their long-term effectiveness as school leaders.

Program Format

Each session is highly interactive and includes the following components: pre-session reading; content presentation explicitly linked to identified standards; link to practice led by a practicing school administrator; application activity; suggested follow-up activity in the participant's school setting; written reflection. The seminars will be hosted at school sites in the partner school divisions to capitalize on the available leadership experience in each setting and to emphasize the concept that effective solutions are site sensitive and site specific.

Target Audience

No response.

Self-Selection and/or Identification Through School Division

No/yes. Self-selection was not planned in the initial program. The program is planned to support each school division's systematic efforts in leadership development and potential leadership identification. Our goal is to create a replicable, validated program that can be instituted by other school divisions.

Duration of Program

Twelve one-day sessions scheduled over two calendar years - The opening two days are sequential full-day sessions scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on a Friday and Saturday with a dinner on Friday evening. The following ten sessions are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Outcomes Measured

During 2006-2007 the program planners intend to develop two outcome measures. The first measure will be an ISLLC standards-linked case study response that will be administered as a year one pretest and posttest measure with the goal of developing a set of anchor papers. Preliminary rubrics will be developed before pretest administration and will be refined based on year one experience. The second evaluation measure will be reflection journals kept by each participant in which the participants will be encouraged to reflect on how their understanding and practice have changed as a result of program experiences. Sharing of journal content will be voluntary, and confidentiality will be maintained.

Program Evaluation

The 2005-2006 academic year will be devoted to the development of appropriate evaluation measures. If funding can be secured, we would welcome development of an externally developed evaluation protocol.

Program Developers and Their Affiliation in 2005-2006:

Contact Information

Dr. Nancy R. Iverson
Assistant Dean
University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies
434-243-2560
nri5s@virginia.edu

or

Dr. Stewart Roberson
Superintendent, Hanover County Public Schools
804-365-4500