Fort Bend ISD holds its first LEAD Academy Graduation for those who aspire to become Campus Principals

Fort Bend ISD LEAD Principals’ Academy recently held its graduation ceremony. LEAD (Leadership - Excellence – Accountability – Development) is designed to prepare qualified campus administrators aspiring to become campus principals.

The Academy's first cohorts, under the leadership of Jan McDonald, Organizational Development Coordinator, were selected from 60 applicants. In May 2008, the LEAD Academy consisted of seven associate principals, 12 assistant principals, two deans of instruction and a campus improvement specialist.

Monthly sessions focused on eight critical topics necessary to be an effective principal.  These unique sessions provided the opportunity to experience first hand issues principals face each day. Future principals participated in sessions such as effective communications, instructional leadership, school finance and human resources. Additionally, participants took part in ROPES, a team building activity as well as sessions on the value of “leading with your strengths” and discovering your emotional intelligence for personal growth and development.

"The challenges are huge and these qualified administrators are to be commended for taking time out of their busy schedules for career development. We have many principals who are eligible for retirement, and we want to prepare the best and the brightest leaders as part of the district's succession plan. We must do our best to continue to provide the best qualified workforce and training opportunities for our exceptional instructional leaders. Congratulations LEAD Academy graduates for a job well-done!" said Dr. Timothy Jenney, Fort Bend ISD Superintendent, during the April graduation ceremony.

Members of the Principals’ Academy are:

Rebeca Bangstein	Assistant Principal, Goodman Elementary School
Pam Browning	Principal, Scanlan Oaks Elementary School
Kimberly Carroll	Associate Principal, Elkins High School
Jill Clay	Assistant Principal, Sienna Crossing Elementary School
Mary Ellen Edge	Associate Principal, Clements High School
Jaimie Geis	Principal, Palmer Elementary School
Amanda Hartley	Title I Coordinator
Lorri Hubert	Assistant Principal, Clements High School
Brad Hitchcock	Associate Principal, Quail Valley Middle School
Charmaine Hobin	Principal, Commonwealth Elementary School
Lester (LD) Johnson	Assistant Principal, Hightower High School
Penny Lemons	Campus Improvement Specialist, McAuliffe Middle School
Deidra Lyon-Lewis	Associate Principal, Kempner High School
Valerie Maclin	Principal, Briargate Elementary School
Kwabena Mensah	Assistant Principal, Burton Elementary School
Molly Perkins	Assistant Principal, Clements High School
Patricia Ray	Assistant Principal, Barrington Place Elementary School
Justo Robinson	Associate Principal, Hightower High School
Shannon Simmons	Associate Principal, First Colony Middle School
Jennifer Sowells	Principal, Ridgegate Elementary School
Tom Thompson	Associate Principal, Fort Settlement Middle School
Ann Tucker	Assistant Principal, Dulles Middle School

During the Academy Induction Luncheon, Dr. Jenney welcomed the Administrators to the Academy and shared the need for well-qualified administrators to lead our schools in the future.  Afterwards, the group developed a vision for the school each hoped to lead.  Dr. Olwen Herron, Chief Accountability and Organizational Development Officer and Beth Martinez, Director of Organizational Development, shared how to “Lead with Your Strengths.”  The following week, the group spent a day teambuilding and goal setting with an experience on the ROPES course.

Session II The 4-1-1 of Effective Communication: Mary Ann Simpson, Chief Communications Officer, led this session. The topic of effective communication with the media and the school community helped participants learn valuable strategies to use with potential crisis situations they may encounter on the campus.  Principals Kevin Moran, Clements High School; Kevin Shipley, Lake Olympia Middle School; and Irma Cobos, Meadows Elementary School, shared successful communication strategies used with the school community.

Session III Managing Your Campus through Leadership: Academy members identified their time management style.  Several campus principals shared effective techniques for prioritization and delegation. Principals selected were Michael Heinzen, Dulles Middle School; Carol Allin, Mission Glen Elementary School; Mary Laster, Jan Schiff Elementary School; Michael Leach, Austin High School; Pat Paquin, Hightower High School; and Viretta West, Garcia Middle School.

Session IV Putting the Human in Human Resources: Topics included district recruitment, the do’s and don’ts of interviewing, and the district hiring process.  This session was led by Rhonda McWilliams, Chief Human Resources Officer. Additionally, Jan McDonald provided information about generations in the schools and how to work successfully with the Millennial teacher.  Julie Diaz, Principal, Fort Settlement Middle School, shared ideas to motivate and show appreciation to teachers and staff.  Carolyn Hanahan, General Counsel, provided participants with a hands on experience with the grievance process.  The session ended with a principals’ panel, sharing expertise on teacher retention and recruitment of highly qualified teachers.  The panel consisted of David Yaffie, Baines Middle School;Dr. Latecha Bogle, Highlands Elementary; Barbara Whitaker, Elkins High School; Julie Diaz, Fort Settlement Middle School; and Dawn Carlson, Barrington Place Elementary School.

Session V Money Matters: Focused on the topic of school finance.  John Davis, Controller, showed the participants how FBISD district budget is developed.  Sean Bogle, Budget Manager, and Sandy Matthews, Budget Analyst, walked the cohorts through the campus budget process. This was followed by Ron Vlaskamp, Activity Fund Accountant, explaining the Activity Fund budget. Campus budget managers Carlan Young, Darlene Stewart, and Debra Bernard sent Academy members on a shopping spree using budget codes for campus supplies and materials.  Their expertise was tested with a game of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” designed by Beth Graham, Principal, Sugar Mill Elementary.  The day culminated with a challenging game of “Financial Jeopardy.”

Session VI A Different Kind of Smart™:  Prior to this session, each administrator participated in a 360° evaluation. In the session, Dr. Olwen Herron, Chief Accountability and Organizational Development Officer and Lindsay Shepheard, Executive Administrator for the Superintendent, led the participants through the five areas of emotional intelligence and how each one impacts the performance of a leader.  The administrators used this valuable information to write personal action plans for improvement.

Sessions VII and VIII Instructional Leadership: In these sessions, participants researched how to identify best practices in the general and special education classrooms. Stephanie Clark, Assistant Director of Special Education, described instructional expectations for a variety of special education classrooms. Another topic covered was how to impact the culture and climate as the new principal to an established campus.  Principals, Troy Mooney, Kempner High School; Lee Crews, Quail Valley Middle School; Carol Hale, Mission Bend Elementary; and Dr. Sara Thurman, Sartaria Middle School, shared personal experiences of school culture and change.  Additionally, I’m Okay, You’re Okay, We Are All Okay, Celebrating the Diversity of All was presented by Yolanda Young, Organizational Development Coordinator, and Ilene Harper, Assistant Director, Student Support Services/Diversity.   The final topic explored was the state and federal accountability systems.  This complex topic was delivered from the lighter side by Dr. Jan Moore, Director, Accountability, with her version of Accountability for Dummies book that she developed.  The participants reviewed and developed instructional strategies to improve student achievement.

Proudly, at this time, five participants of the LEAD Academy have been promoted to the principal position. They include:

Pam Browning	Scanlan Oaks Middle School
Jaimie Geis	Palmer Elementary
Charmaine Hobin	Commonwealth Elementary
Valerie Maclin	Briargate Elementary
Jennifer Sowells	Ridgegate Elementary

Additionally, Amanda Hartley was named Title I Coordinator.

This has truly been a fabulous first LEAD Principals’ Academy.