June 12, 2023
LANCASTER, Texas -- Lancaster ISD educators recently attended a leadership summit to enhance their skills and knowledge in education. The inaugural Purpose, Passion, and Untapped Potential Leadership Summit allowed educators to gain valuable insights from experienced professionals, including nationally known educator and public speaker Principal Baruti Kafele, leading professional development consultant for school districts, Dr. Donyall Dickey, and Lancaster ISD leaders, Superintendent Dr. Katrise Perera, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Barker, and district leaders.
The four-day summit, organized by Lancaster ISD Instructional Services team members, brought together district leadership from all departments and campuses to discuss approaches and practices for leading successful schools and departments. Attendees engaged in various activities designed to foster collaboration and spark new ideas. The workshops and breakout sessions covered topics such as effective communication, innovative teaching methods, strategies for student success, team-building, customer service for recruitment and retention, and the importance of self-reflection for those in leadership roles.
Summit organizer and professional learning coordinator Dr. Shronda LaCour believes the summit showcased the exceptional leadership talent within Lancaster ISD schools and organizations.
"I am incredibly grateful for the tremendous support and collaboration with our Chief of Student Services, Dr. Marcus Jackson. Together, we worked to make the inaugural Lancaster ISD Leadership Summit a reality," LaCour reflected. "This event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of so many individuals within our organization. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and resources to make this summit a resounding success."
Summit attendees also expressed gratitude for being part of an impactful four days of professional learning.
"I came away with so many new ideas and a renewed sense of purpose," said Briana Broussard, a district third- through fifth-grade math instructional specialist. "It opened my mind to think about what I can do to improve myself now, so I can process it over the summer and put it into practice during the school year. It was great to be surrounded by people passionate about education and committed to making a difference in students' lives."
Lancaster ISD district leadership team members led workshops and information sessions, providing attendees with important information, including the importance of customer service in school districts, safety and security, sustainable retention, accountability, and documentation training.
Highlights of the summit include the two-day presentations by renowned education expert Principal Kafele. He shared his insights on the changing landscape of education and the importance of developing leadership skills in his sessions entitled "Is My School, Department, Team, or District Better Because I Lead It," "Three Equity Non-negotiables," and "Critical Questions for Inspiring Classroom Excellence." He encouraged educators to create their leadership blueprint and to focus on implementing strategies to achieve their goals.
Dr. Donyall Dickey spoke to the attendees about how to explore best practices for lesson planning and aligning professional learning communities with campus and district academic goals. The Lancaster ISD educators were impressed and inspired after the four days of dynamic professional learning.
"These last few days have been amazing," said Yvonne Thornton, Principal of Rosa Parks/Millbrook Elementary. "The summit has allowed me to reflect, refocus, and reset personally and professionally. Listening to the guest speakers also confirmed some of the decisions about progress on campus and executing our vision next school year."
The summit also provided an opportunity for educators to connect and strengthen professional relationships. They shared their experiences, exchanged ideas, and identified potential areas for collaboration. Day three of the summit included independent work time for teams or departments to come together and draft their strategic plans for the upcoming school year.
Lancaster ISD Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Cassandra Barker, praised the summit attendees for their commitment to professional development. She emphasized the district's ongoing efforts to provide its educators with opportunities for growth and development and encouraged them to continue to strive for excellence in their work.
"Throughout the week, I've mentioned that I think of all Lancaster ISD employees as stars in this constellation we call the district," said Barker. "As we brighten our stars as leaders, we can move this constellation to be the brightest, not only in the Best Southwest, but in the State of Texas, and even nationally. Our goal is always to give our best to our students, and we do that by investing in all of the leaders in our district."
The Purpose, Passion, and Untapped Potential Leadership Summit concluded with a team-building day of bowling, food, and fun. Attendees left the summit with stronger relationships with their colleagues, renewed enthusiasm, and a deeper understanding of their leadership roles. They will return to their campus or department with new insights, skills, and inspiration to continue positively impacting the students' lives in Lancaster ISD.
