Last week, I had the chance to spend a day with 535 creative, inspiring, and engaging women in education leadership roles across the state of Ohio. What a better way to celebrate Women’s History Month, and to acknowledge that there is still work that needs to be done. Dr. Stephanie Siddens is the Interim Superintendent for the State of Ohio. Her message, “Ohio’s students are counting on us”. The data she shared emphasized the urgent need to continue to invest our time and resources into the science of reading, career readiness, and physical and mental wellness. The keynote speaker, Coach Sue Ramsey, introduced the idea of a transformational purpose statement. This statement frames your “why” and helps you use your strengths and your core values to make decisions about what to say yes to and when it’s ok to back away. I know that many leaders often feel like they have over committed, or are being pulled in many directions. Having a transformative purpose statement can help you reflect on the role you want to play in the various work you are doing. Sometimes it is ok to not be the leader! Her second point was the idea that effective leaders make others around them better. It is hard to do this if you have lost sight of why you are doing the work to begin with, or are so exhausted that you can’t put your best self in the game. Dr. Cynthia Moss emphasized the value of networking. Her activity, networking bingo, would be a great way to introduce students or staff to networking by providing an opportunity to meet a variety of peers with the knowledge or skills you may need to tap into now or in the future. This year’s conference theme was Reflect, Reset, and Renew. Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight brought the word intentionality into the theme. I am a sketch-noter, and I drew a stick figure turning down the volume on noise in our relationships. She challenged us to take a hard look at those around us. Who is on the walk behind and beside you? Who is a crutch that is keeping you from hitting your full stride? Taking the time out of our day to reflect not just on the day, but on the outcomes of our actions. Were they what we expected? What is our desired future state? This critical reflection can lead to a reset and reimagining of our journey. Who doesn’t want to hit reset or have a chance to reimagine themselves? One of my passions is growing young women in leadership, so it was very exciting to hear from 10 year old Payton Obert, whose Lemonade Stand philanthropy project has grown in 4 years to 65+ stands across Ohio and 5 other states with a goal to raise more than $85000 this year to support children in need. We have to stop telling our students they are the leaders of the future. They most definitely are the leaders of our present.
The breakout sessions were an opportunity to learn from each other. Here are my takeaways from the sessions I attended:
Book Studies - Dr. Laura Hebert, Natasha Adams, Dr. Kim Miller
Key takeaway :Book studies are a method of communication
Choose books to match your outcome
Books are frameworks for change discussions
Book talks create common language within a team
Courageous Leadership To Extend The Needs of All Students- Dawn Bridges
Key takeaway: How do we create spaces where students and staff feel seen and can take off their armor? What an impactful image!
How can your passion become your armor - as a strength not a defense?
What does leading and teaching with honesty, impact, courage and decisive action actually look like and sound like?
Innovation Space - Dr. Terri Holden, Dr. Cynthia Hudson
Key Takeaway: Participants had a chance to share out innovative solutions they have implemented in their districts. What would you have shared?
Creation of a Student Advocate position
Creation of a single point of contact Care Coordinator
Implementation of a Pre-School Life Skills Curriculum
Safety plan audit, with regular safety focus in the staff bulletin
Health lab - for teachers and for students
Courageous Conversations - Cari Buehler (Betsy Cowles Award) and Danbury Team
Key Takeaway: What story are you telling yourself? What facts is it actually based on? How is that story shaping how you are going to go into a challenging conversation?
Learn about yourself first. What are the conversational triggers that will prevent you from having a rational response? How do you recognize them and reschedule a conversation?
Be curious vs being judgmental. This opens your mind to hearing the other person’s concerns or input.
It was uplifting to be among so many women who were so willing to share their own experiences and expertise. I am encouraged by the number of teacher leaders who participated, and the number of new administrators who were there as well. As Dr. Talford-Knight shared, we need to continue to reach a hand back to the women leaders who are on the journey behind us, and to walk alongside and in support of the women who are on the journey with us and ahead of us.
Resources To Spark Your Thinking:
The booklist shared in the Book Study Session:
Our Iceberg Is Melting - a fable (change agent conversations)
The Power of Moments - a parent book study
Multipliers - are you building capacity behind you?
Boundaries For Leaders - breaking away from top down culture
Trust and Inspire - shifting mindset to trust/inspire/empower
Big Potential - the power of collaboration
Upstream - the importance of using systems to move out of reaction mode
The Advantage - cohesive teams and clarity
And one of my current favorites - Deep Change Leadership - Doug Reeves