The 2024-2025 cohort of District Leadership Fellows has wrapped up their year-long program and it’s time to take a look back at their year.
27 school district leaders from Texas were welcomed into the eighth cohort of District Leadership Fellows. They represented districts ranging in size from less than 1000 students to over 60,000 students. Leaders from the Dallas-Fort Worth area were joined by those from Houston and east, west and south Texas.
Over the course of the year, leaders focused on key elements including:
- Individual and collective strengths
- The 4 Disciplines of Execution
- Impact model
- Communication techniques
- Peer collaboration
Strengths
The program began with leaders completing a Strengths Finder assessment over the summer. When they gathered at SMU for the Fall Retreat, leaders explored their individual and collective strengths. This resonated with Dr. Crystal Watson, Aldine ISD, who said “I’m driven by a deep commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement in our district. The SMU District Leaders Fellowship program immediately resonated with me because of its emphasis on strengths-based leadership and collaborative problem-solving.”
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
As the fall semester kicked off, leaders completed a book study of The 4 Disciplines of Execution for Educators, engaging in online cohort and peer group meetings, and participating in online discussions. Mrs. Hannah Mensah, Uplift Education, said “The book was such a good framing for the year. Its “digest-ability” and timeliness in the school year helped me simplify and clarify my own vision of my work.”
Impact Model
Building upon the book study, each leader built an impact model for their individual district projects. Dr. Crystal Watson, Aldine ISD, noted “I especially value the program’s focus on creating, measuring, and leading impactful change. The tools and frameworks provided, particularly those for establishing lead and lag measures, resources, and scoreboards, have been invaluable in guiding my project to increase principal effectiveness. This structured approach has enabled me to clearly define goals, track progress, and ensure accountability, ultimately leading to more impactful outcomes.”
Communication Techniques
A highlight of the program was the opportunity to learn and practice the communication technique active listening, with the OARS framework of:
- Open-ended questions
- Affirmation
- Reflection
- Summarization
After practicing with each other, leaders had the opportunity to practice and receive feedback while interacting with avatar in a mixed-reality simulation environment.
Peer collaboration
Time and space to build relationships with peers were integral to the program. Dr. Stephanie Lee, Arlington ISD appreciated this aspect of the program, saying “A key takeaway from the program has been the emphasis on reflective leadership and the power of intentional collaboration. Learning how to leverage diverse perspectives and building trusting relationships through OARS coaching has strengthened my ability to drive school improvement. Additionally, the leadership coaching sessions and peer cohort sessions have helped me clarify my goals, refine my leadership style, and implement actionable strategies with confidence.”
Summary
To summarize her experience, Ms. Erica Reyes, Duncanville ISD, said “This experience is one I would recommend for anyone that would like to make connections, improve their leadership skills, stretch their thinking, and add value to their organization.”
Interested in joining the next cohort to build your professional network and develop your leadership skills? Click here to learn more and click here to apply.
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