2024 ACSA Women in School Leadership Forum

Half of all interviewers make up their minds within the first five minutes whether a candidate is a ‘good match’ for a position. With only one chance to make a first impression, women on the move have to take destiny into their own hands. Understanding the people and priorities of a prospective employer allows you to align your talents to that employer’s needs. This session uncovers ways to boost interview performance and land that next job! Participants will walk away with tips and tricks to interview like a woman who’s going places.

Achieving success in educational leadership demands more than just professional skills; it requires inner balance and effective self-love. This course, designed specifically for educational leadership, focuses on developing self-regulation strategies that enhance both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. Participants will explore practical techniques to prioritize tasks, manage emotions, reduce stress, set strategic goals, and maintain health and well-being. This session aims to empower female educational leaders to achieve a balanced and fulfilling career.

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. Enhanced Self-Regulation Skills Participants will gain practical tools and techniques to effectively manage time, emotions, and stress. By mastering these self-love strategies, they will enhance their ability to manage stress, maintain emotional balance, and navigate the demands of their leadership roles with greater ease. Understand the physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of stress. Learn techniques to identify early signs of stress in oneself and others. Develop strategies to manage and reduce stress effectively. Recognizing the Signs of Stress within yourself: Physical Signs: Discuss common physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Emotional Signs: Identify emotional indicators like irritability, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Behavioral Signs: Highlight behavioral changes such as withdrawal from social interactions, changes in work performance, increased use of alcohol or drugs, and procrastination. Creatively identify strategies to enhance life, create energy, and build deeper relationships. 
2. Developing a Personal Self-Love and Stress Reduction Plan. Identifying Triggers: Help participants identify their personal stress triggers and develop strategies to manage or avoid them. Action Plan: Guide participants in creating a personalized stress management plan that includes relaxation techniques, time management strategies, and support systems.
3. Improved Well-being and Resilience The course will emphasize the importance of health, well-being, and resilience in leadership. Participants will discover methods to incorporate physical activity, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep into their busy schedules, fostering a positive mindset and strong support systems to sustain their effectiveness and job satisfaction. 

Techniques for Identifying Stress Early: Mindfulness and Body Scans: Teach mindfulness techniques and body scans to help participants become more aware of their physical and emotional states. Regular Check-ins: Encourage routine self-check-ins throughout the day to assess stress levels and identify any early signs of stress.

Most of us have considered making a career shift, whether lateral or promotional, from one school to another, one district to another, and/or one job to another. Given the multiplying challenges of educational leadership, you may be seriously considering a variety of options and opportunities. Whether you anticipate an imminent career shift or not, come hear from a variety of women who have made recent career shifts and others who have decided against it. You will have the opportunity to pause and reflect on your career, and your thoughts and feelings related to making a career shift. You will leave with concrete tools to use when making decisions about a potential shift, as well as tips and tricks for always being ready for that next opportunity.

Key Audience Takeaways:

1. Results from self-reflection tools and benefits from sharing concerns and apprehensions regarding possible career shifts; 
2. Decision-making tools to use when considering a shift; 
3. Specific tips and tricks to help you be ready for that next opportunity, including deep awareness, networking practice, resume-creating and interview tips, and more!

Where in the world is a female superintendent, her leadership team, and all the high school principals in the district (the majority of whom are female) meeting regularly, supporting one another, maintaining the same vision and improving the rates of 9th graders on track? That’s the Garden Grove way! Garden Grove USD is one of California’s 9 CORE Districts working in a cross-district network to improve the rates of 9th grade on track for postsecondary success. Together, schools in the multi-district network are focused on the strategic use of data and on building reliable routines that get the right data to the right people to inspire the right action. Learn from female leaders in Garden Grove USD about how this collaboration is transforming their leadership and improving the rates of 9th graders on track for success in high school and beyond.

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. Understand specific teaming structures leading to improvement
2. Dive into data that is helping the network improve 9th grade success
3. Take away tools that are engaging students and teachers