A new cohort of school district leaders have been welcomed into the SMU District Leadership Fellows program, a hybrid in-person and online leadership training program for school district superintendents and district leaders run by the Institute for Leadership Impact at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
The 2024-2025 cohort includes leaders from school districts across Texas, as well as from Arkansas. School districts ranging in size from one hundred and sixty students to sixty-seven thousand students are included.
Of the program, 2023-2024 participant Dr. Veronica Perkins, Superintendent of Blytheville School District, said “The District Fellowship Program has been an invaluable experience. The immersive experience coupled with mentorship and networking helped me to embrace collaborative leadership and honed my strategic thinking. Engaging the program empowered me to lead with purpose!”
District Leadership Fellows is a strengths-based leadership development program that enhances the leadership abilities of established and emerging school district leaders through an intensive year-long cohort. Through collaboration with peers and recognized education experts, Fellows are empowered to solve hard problems in their districts, build their leadership skills, and develop lasting educational leadership networks.
Who’s in the 2024-2025 cohort?
School leaders in the upcoming cohort of the District Leadership Fellows program include:
- Mrs. Stacy Alton, Superintendent, Leadership Prep School
- Mr. James Boyd Jr., Executive Director / Superintendent, KIPP Delta Public Schools
- Mr. Mike Burns, Superintendent, Big Sandy ISD
- Dr. Marcy Corley, Director of Professional Learning, Frisco ISD
- Dr. Shelby Davidson, Superintendent, Alba-Golden ISD
- Mrs. Stephanie Flores, Executive Director of Intervention Services, Coppell ISD
- Mr. Dario Ganic, Director of IB Programming and Coordination, Uplift Education
- Dr. Dimitri Garcia, Executive Director of Human Capital, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
- Dr. Kristin Hebert, Director of Secondary Academics, Plano ISD
- Dr. Dana Jobe, Superintendent, Universal Academy
- Mrs. Dolloress Johnson, Executive Director of Human Resources, Arlington ISD
- Mrs. Mary Kennington, Director of Accountability, Assessment, & Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Coppell ISD
- Dr. Beth Klammer, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD
- Dr. Stephanie Lee, Executive Director of Elementary Schools, Arlington ISD
- Dr. Mark Letterer, Executive Director of School Leadership and Innovation, Plano ISD
- Dr. Summer Martin, Executive Director of Counseling & Prevention Services, Richardson ISD)
- Mrs. Hannah Mensah, Managing Director of Primary Schools, Uplift Education
- Ms. LaTasha Murry, Executive Director of CCMR & Enrichment, Lancaster ISD
- Mrs. Tyisha Nelson, Senior Executive Director of Federal Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Royse City ISD
- Mrs. Rae Ann Patty, Superintendent, Waskom ISD
- Ms. Elizabeth Podany, Director of Innovation and Design, Village Tech Schools
- Ms. Erica Reyes, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning, Duncanville ISD
- Dr. Gayle Smith, Assistant Superintendent, Anna ISD
- Mr. Ryan Steele, Executive Director of School Leadership and Innovation, Plano ISD
- Mrs. Schretta Stewart-Mays, Executive Campus Director, Village Tech Schools
- Dr. Bobbie Treviño, Superintendent, Zapata County ISD
- Dr. Crystal Watson, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Aldine ISD
- Dr. Bryan Williams, Community Superintendent-Secondary Schools, Spring Branch ISD
Drs. Hebert and Jobe are returning to the program for their second year.
To learn more about Institute for Leadership Impact programs, visit our website, email us at leadershipimpact@smu.edu, and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn