The Norfolk Public Schools & Greater Norfolk Corporation | Norfolk Public Schools and the Greater Norfolk Corporation
Program Description
The Leadership Academy is a joint project involving the Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) and the Greater Norfolk Corporation (GNC). The GNC is a business organization consisting of the top executives of major businesses located in the greater Norfolk community. In 2002, the GNC and NPS entered into a partnership to address the critical need for school leaders within the school division. The partnership was the result of many meetings and conferences calls organized and championed by school board member and executive vice president of the GNC Barry Bishop; school board chair Theresa Whibley; and former superintendent John O. Simpson.
The Leadership Academy enables the participants to work with a cohort group of leaders through a variety of exercises and/or experiences designed to develop and refine leadership skills. The cohorts consist of current principals, assistant principals and a few central administrators. Academy members participate in discussions with the top leadership represented in the Greater Norfolk Corporation, as well as leadership development offered by their training departments. Business partners include USAA, The Dollar Tree, Trader Publishing Company, Landmark Communications, Sentara Health, Wilcox and Savage Attorneys, and others. The sessions are facilitated by NPS administrators and representatives from the GNC. A range of topics are discussed from the business leadership perspective with an emphasis on the application of these ideas in educational settings.
Additionally, Academy participants attend the 3-day Leadership Development Program for Educators at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in Greensboro, NC. Since its inception in 1970, the Center has received rave reviews from Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions. Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Business Week, Time magazine and others have featured the CCL and its work. Recently the Center has been contracted to train superintendents and principals from various districts across the country.
Following the program at the CCL, group assessment data are provided to the district on the cohorts' strengths and areas for development. The data are used by the GNC/NPS planning committee to develop full workshops offered by the partner businesses.
Workshop sessions include:
- Situational Leadership & Conflict Management by Trader Publishing Company
- Hiring for Talent by The Virginian-Pilot
- Creating a High Performance Culture by USAA
- Time Management & Delegation by Sentara Healthcare
- Team Building by The Dollar Tree Stores
This data-driven approach has been the key to the success of the program. Principals and assistants principals have provided feedback which indicates that they are applying new approaches to old problems and they are bonding as a cohort. They frequently call upon one another for help in implementing the strategies shared in the GNC sessions, as well as receiving input on issues they have in common.
Virginia Standard(s) Addressed
Planning and Assessment (ISLLC standard 3)
Instructional Leadership (ISLLC standard 1)
Safety & Organizational Management for Learning (ISLLC standards 2 & 3)
Communication & Community Relations (ISLLC Standard 4)
Professionalism (ISLLC standards 5 & 6)
Program Goals and Objectives
Former Superintendent John O. Simpson and past and present school board members were very concerned about the possible retirements of approximately 40% of the system's principals by 2004. Thus, a partnership was cultivated with the Greater Norfolk Corporation to provide assistance and expertise in the area of developing leadership within the Norfolk school division to prepare for the impending vacancies by creating a pool of qualified candidates to step into these jobs as they come available. Therefore, to meet present and future staffing needs and to prepare the participants for the challenges of urban school leadership, the goals of the Leadership Academy are two-pronged:
Overarching Goals
- Assess the strengths and areas for growth of current school leaders and provide them with development opportunities to build on their leadership strengths and develop plans to address areas for development.
- Provide professional development experiences to participants which engage them in meaningful learning activities which simulate the work of the school principal and prepare them for the challenges of leading a school's instructional program.
- Develop partnership relationships with local business leaders and provide principals with a perspective different from their own regarding principles of effective leadership, management and innovation in leadership.
- Support principal leaders in developing and/or refining skills that are critical to their success such as creating and communicating a shared vision, managing conflict, giving meaningful feedback, maintaining a collaborative climate, modeling enthusiasm and drive, and capitalizing on the talents of others.
- Create a cohort group of school leaders who learn and grow together and offer one another support as they face the challenges of urban school administration.
Outcome Goals for Participants
- build a team and collaborate with teachers to move a plan forward.
- create an instructional vision that all stakeholders support and have a strong desire to achieve.
- read and analyze educational research and make the connection to practice in the schoolhouse.
- support & develop leadership skills in others, and advocate for those ready to assume leadership positions.
- communicate orally to share research with others in a clear and coherent manner for understanding.
- analyze various types of data, lead discussions with stakeholders, and draw conclusions to lead to continuous instructional improvement.
- develop the determination and stamina to see a project/initiative to successful implementation and completion.
Program Format
The Academy offers participants a unique approach to leadership development in public school systems. Where else in the country does a group of high-level business executives commit time, energy, and resources to provide quality leadership training to school principals and assistant principals simply to improve the educational quality for the city's school children? Norfolk is indeed "out of the box" on this challenging issue.
Following the program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC, school leaders have gleaned great insight into their individual leadership strengths and opportunities for development. Participants connect with peers on a new level -- serving as support for one another to improve their leadership practice. They apply the lessons learned from the training sessions offered by the GNC businesses by forming smaller sub-groups based on specific common challenges. They discuss best approaches and return to their schools to implement the strategies learned. Workshop sessions have focused on providing meaningful feedback to employees, managing conflict, team-building, hiring for talent, time management, and others. Role plays, professional readings, cooperative learning, analyzing videotaped scenarios, and other interactive instructional approaches are used by the workshop facilitators in all sessions.
Target Audience
Principals and assistant principals from all schools are considered for inclusion in the Academy. A few central office administrators have also participated.
Self-Selection and/or Identification Through School Division
No/Yes.Duration of Program
Cohorts run through an academic year. They begin their experience with a three-day leadership development program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC, where data are collected on their strengths and development areas. Sessions are then designed by the training departments of the partner businesses to address the need areas. The workshops are full-day, approximately once a month. Participants also meet in small groups following the sessions to discuss applications of the information in the educational setting.Outcomes Measured
Outcomes measured at by the GNC and NPS are: Percent of vacancies filled by Academy assistant principals, SOL scores of new principals who participated, and district stakeholder data gleaned from teacher, student and parent annual surveys.Program Evaluation
A formal program evaluation was completed by The George Washington University in 2004. The outcome was that the Leadership Academy was indeed meeting the program goals (full report available upon request).Contact Information
Dr. Christine A. Harris
Senior Director, Leadership & Capacity Development
Work: 757.628.3481
FAX: 757.628.3818
caharris@nps.k12.va.us