2024 ACSA Women in School Leadership Forum

This workshop aims to deepen understanding and application of mentorship as a transformative tool in educational leadership. It will combine theory with practical, introspective learning to empower participants to enhance their leadership skills, build meaningful mentorship relationships, and promote personal well-being and professional growth. Attendees are encouraged to attend with a friend, colleague, mentor/mentee, but those coming alone will also benefit greatly. The workshop will cover building teams with positive people who support and energize you, highlighting that mentorship is not one-sided and involves two-way communication and mutual growth.

In this presentation, the following will also be discussed and emphasized:
Long-term Benefits of effective mentorship, including improved school culture, enhanced leadership capacity, and better student outcomes.

Community Involvement: Stresses the importance of involving all stakeholders (staff, parents, students) in the process, promoting a truly inclusive and collaborative approach to educational leadership

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. Enhanced Leadership Skills. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to leverage mentorship and use research based strategies to develop their leadership abilities, effectively guide others, and create positive impacts within their educational institutions.
2. Attendees will learn practical strategies for establishing and maintaining strong mentorship connections. This includes setting clear goals, fostering open communication, and providing personalized support tailored to individual needs.
3. Promotion of Personal Well-Being and Professional Growth. The workshop will emphasize the integration of emotional intelligence and self-care into mentorship practices. Participants will discover how to balance personal well-being with professional responsibilities, ensuring sustained growth and resilience in their leadership journeys.

Multiple jeopardy is the theory that the various intersections of one's identity, such as gender, class, race, language, nationality, Colorism, sexual orientation, et al, can have a multiplicative effect on one’s experiences. As a woman leader, we have to recognize the assets and gifts our diverse students, families and colleagues contribute to create a healthy school community. But we have to first have to have a deep understanding of self to become a stronger intersectional leader.

Key Audience Takeaways:

1. Experience a deeper understanding of each of your multiple identities and how it informs all aspects of your leadership;
2. Learn strategies to overcome the “sense of being neither” exclusively one identity nor another;
3. Create a stronger “sense of being” when you live in the borders and find yourself in multiple worlds.

This session will focus on helping educational leaders effectively hone in on branding their self, site & organization utilizing the power of values driven leadership, social media and social influence. Participants will define their brand, define their personal board, calibrate, and discover new and fun ways to grow your brand and PLN to help take your leadership journey to the next level. They will also learn some easy and useful tips/tricks to use social media to tell their story and amplify their brand as well as the brand of their site/organization.

Now more than ever, in a time of attacks on public education, declining enrollment and culture wars, we must own the narrative and become the media. This session serves to empower classified employees, teachers, administrators, superintendents, board members, colleges/universities, families and community partners to embrace branding for the power of connection it has. The session will demystify branding, public relations and promotions. It will empower participants with the ability to amplify their stories for the benefit of themselves, their sites and their organizations.

Key Audience Takeaways:

1. Define brand and personal board
2. Discover new and fun ways to grow your brand and PLN to help take your leadership journey to the next level
3. Learn some easy and useful tips/tricks to use social media to amplify your story

In today's interconnected world, success is not just about what you know but also about who you know. This session explores the power of leveraging your network to unlock your full potential, pursue your passions, and cultivate lifelong friendships. We will delve into practical strategies for building and nurturing meaningful connections, harnessing collective talents, and fostering a supportive community that promotes growth, resilience, and well-being.

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. Learn practical strategies for building and maintaining a diverse and supportive network and Identify key individuals in your network who can serve as mentors, sponsors, and advocates.
2. Explore the benefits of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support within a community of like-minded women leaders.
3. Develop an action plan to leverage your network effectively for pursuing your passions, advancing your career, and enhancing your overall well-being.

Research proves that by intentionally practicing gratitude, we can dramatically improve our disposition, bringing us more joy and better health. It also makes a huge difference in relationships and leads to more successful learning experiences. In this session, Lainie Rowell shares how educators can use small gratitude practices to make a big difference with kids, peers, and the world. We can use gratitude to shift from barely surviving to actually thriving and flourishing.

Join this interactive and engaging session to discover and discuss:

• How we can empower kids to be grateful for learning which leads to engagement and improved performance 
• Ways we can practice gratitude with our peers to help us cope with stress, regulate our emotions, and nurture relationships 
• How gratitude promotes prosocial behavior in our learning communities and the world

Leadership through Lyrics is an immersive multimedia experience of reflective practice. This session will provide the attendees with the opportunity to reflect on areas for improvement and take responsibility for change and growth. Through the lyrics and music of Alecia Moore (better known as P!NK) this experience will motivate you to bring your best self to your leadership position every day. Additionally, you will leave energized and committed to balancing your professional and personal responsibilities.

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. You will increase your confidence to take on that next-level position
2. You will understand that we are all on the continuum of personal and professional improvement
3. You will learn skills to build on your leadership profile