With a touch stone of "Let's Do Great Things for Kids" Don Zimring can bring both laughter and tears as he guides his audience through both the professional and emotional realities, responsibilities, and treasures of helping students succeed. Whether it is a video of a child's first moments in Kindergarten or a reflective interaction of what the word "Noble" means and how it is engrained in everything we do, the audience comes away with both pride and passion for the work they do.
Leadership
21st Century Learning in a 19th Century Mindset
Like the weather, everyone talks about needing to 'change' education, but how do you transform an institution that is designed to resist change? Blending humor and interactive activities, the audience comes to grips with the 'brutal truths' and the exciting opportunities that await 21st century learners.
Now I'm In Charge - But How Do I lead?
An introduction to leadership strategies for first time managers and directors. Incorporating key elements of research in Situational Leadership along with case studies, participants get some key "what-to-do's" and, more importantly, "what-not-to-do's" as the next generation of leaders.
Leadership & Communication - One can't exist without the other
Learn key strategies a leader needs in order to communicate in a world of tweets, instant messaging, and the 24 hour news cycle. Today's leaders must know how to work with, not against, the reality of today's ambient technology.
The Leadership Team at the Negotiating Table
Negotiations have become both an art and a science. Having members of the leadership team participate in the process carries inherent risks/benefits. How to minimize the former while expanding the latter is the focus of this practical approach to a challenging situation.
Staff Development
Can't We All Just Get Along? - Getting different divisions to work together
All organizations suffer from various forms of dysfunction between different departments or divisions. Getting everyone to focus on a common goal is never easy, but having each unit within the organization understand the power of collaboration versus the dangers of internal competition is the first step. Using case studies, interactive exercises, and lots of humor, participants leave with a smile and new tools to more effectively work together.
M & M's: Myths and Misunderstandings of Working with the Media
"They never get it right" ... "That's not what I meant to say". How do you train staff to effectively and positively work with the myriad of media sources present today? The module uses case studies to help participants navigate the intricacies of getting your message out clearly the first time.
Customer Service is for Nordstrom... We're Just a Bureaucracy
In the end, it is all about how we work with each of the constituent groups our organization is pledged to serve. Whether it be parents, students, community members or other staff members - each contact represents an opportunity to strengthen the organization and its mission or add to a negative perception. Using classic videos and film, the participants get to "look in the mirror" to find the best (and worst) practices in building positive connections.
New Principal Orientation - Ignorance Is Never Bliss
Any new principal faces a tsunami of issues, protocols, practices and culture that can derail success at any moment. This overview provides some practical approaches to dealing with the myriad of issues ranging from budget monitoring to dealing with HPP's (high profile parents). Laced with humor and case studies - newly minted principals leave with some key strategies to make their first year a success.
Student Success
It's Not How High The Score - It's How Far They've Come
Designed for parents and community members, this module looks at real elements that must be used to measure student success. A test score is meaningless data if taken out of context of the experience and academic/social/emotional growth of the student. Bringing in a variety of metrics, the module provides a broad base of understanding of how to, and how NOT to, measure student achievement in today's reality.
Risky Business - How Failure is More Critical Than Ever to Success
Building on the growing body of research from Paul Tough and others, the module explores the challenges created by a generation of the "everyone gets a medal" mentality and how to guide both students and adults into understanding the importance of failure in the learning process.
Charter Schools - Why They Can Be Vital to a School District's Success
After two decades of undeclared war between existing public schools and Charter startups, more and more Districts are realizing the power and positive impacts a Charter can have on the District's mission of serving students. How to change the leadership mindset and the organizational approach is the first step in building more effective 21st Century Learning Institutions.
