Balancing Leadership for Change

Barbara U'Ren

School leadership is a balancing act, especially in the complex times we are currently experiencing. Prescott Union School District Superintendent David Smucker, Cottonwood-Oak Creek Superintendent Barbara U’Ren, Beaver Creek Superintendent Karin Wood, and retired superintendent Dr. Nancy Alexander summarized the path Yavapai County took over the last year to create positive change agents and a continuum of strong leadership.

Their story started with a Yavapai County Professional Development Summit where the Yavapai Education Service Agency asked their school leaders what they needed. With a variety of schools, both district and charter, the needs have a degree of variance. They all started the Summit with one idea of how to drive professional development in the county, but left with a completely different idea focused on leadership, classroom instruction and long-range planning through tri-lateral planning all stymieing the continuous improvement efforts for schools.

The presenters focused on the leadership leg, explaining that while district sizes may vary, a strategic professional development strategy for leaders can be effective for multiple districts and leaders. Recognizing that any effort must be research-based, practical and adaptable to each district, the McREL Balanced Leadership Framework provided the anchor for all. This includes creating a purposeful community and school-level leadership focused on student learning and prepared to address magnitudes of change.

Yavapai County started training their first cohorts of leaders in fall and spring of the 2014-15 school year, ending up with three cohorts so far. Each of the presenters then identified the ways the model and trainings have fit into their districts and aha moments, each representing different-sized districts with slightly varying needs. The process has been beneficial, creating many opportunities for growth and learning within each district.

Kelsey Jahntz
Grand Canyon University