VSLP Session Dates and Descriptions
Last year’s Vermont School Leadership Project was a great success! Looking ahead, we are excited about what we will be offering to our next cohort, including an enhanced focus on personal development planning, a session on effective community engagement, and a focus on ways technology can support transformation initiatives. Participation in VSLP will provide 8 credits towards your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).
I look forward to receiving your applications! - Sue McCormack, January 2009.
DRAFT
Session 1: Know Thyself - Exploring personal values and professional competencies
July 14 - 17, 2009
Team building exercises and experiential activities help associates become acquainted, and prepare for the program. A series of assessments and exercises, including 360o feedback, creates a rich picture of each associate’s leadership style. Associates create personal development plans they will work with during the remainder of the program. In addition, associates articulate a shared vision for education and are introduced to some of the key education policy issues facing Vermont.
Session 2: The Call to Leadership - Concepts for Transformational Leaders
October 15 - 17, 2009
An introduction to systems thinking and Bolman and Deal’s Frames provides a conceptual framework for associates. Associates apply these concepts to their professional and community work, and to the range of issues they will explore during the remainder of the VSLP program.
Session 3: The Transformational Leader Toolkit
January 28 - 29, 2010
Associates are introduced to a variety of specific tools for practical application of systems thinking concepts. Effective approaches to data and data collection for the purpose of transformation are explored. Associates work with their personal development plans to continue to assess and develop their leadership abilities and effectiveness.
Session 4: Know thy Neighbor – Developing Effective Community Partnerships
March 25 - 26, 2010
Associates learn the principles of successful public engagement and explore examples of successful education and community partnerships from the field. Associates begin to articulate their vision for the transformation initiative they will undertake at their work site, and create a plan to develop partnerships and collect relevant data.
Session 5: Making Meaning – Effective Data Analysis for Effective Action
May 6, 2010
Associates refine their transformation initiatives. Data analysis is explored and associates are encouraged to apply their previous learning to help find meaning in what they are discovering from their data. VSLP faculty will provide coaching.
Session 6: Leading Change – Implementing Successful Transformation Initiatives
July 14 - 16, 2010
Initiatives move to the implementation phase during this session. Associates invite school and community partners to attend a portion of the session to work collaboratively on an implementation plan. VSLP faculty will provide coaching.
Session 7: Peer and faculty coaching
September 2010
This online session will provide an opportunity for associates to share the results of their work to date, and to provide and receive support from their peers as well as VSLP faculty as they continue the implementation phase of their initiatives.
Session 8: Closing Session & Celebration
November 19 - 20, 2010
Associates reflect on the VSLP experience and on their personal and professional growth. Associates reflect on future trends and opportunities in education and consider the call to leadership. Associates report on the initial results of their transformation initiatives. A commencement luncheon provides an opportunity for associates, their colleagues, and their families to celebrate their accomplishments.
