Leadership Coaching

I was invited to participate in a pilot Leadership Coaching certification program through the Illinois Association of School Administrators Institute for Advanced Leadership- I must admit that I was apprehensive at first- but trusted the person extending the offer- so I said "yes"! I wasn't prepared for the level of commitment required, but I was aware of the potential benefits for not only myself, but for the entire organization. So far, it has been a worthwhile journey!!

The premise of leadership coaching is different from mentoring. In mentoring, you often relate your past experience to the "mentee" and then tell them how to handle a situation. In coaching, the skill is in allowing the "coachee" to concisely identify the problem or issue, then help them discover potential solutions through meaningful questioning and listening techniques. Many top business executives utilize "coaches" to help them become more productive both professionally and personally. Our master coach is Sandye Brown from Vancouver, WA. She created a company called Wide Awake Inc and provides us with direct instruction in the "art" of effective coaching. Dr. Nancy Blair from Cardinal Stritch University co-facilitates and provides expertise in the elements of change, leadership, and organizational improvement. We are required to read several texts throughout the course of the program, including Leading in a culture of Change by Fullan and Leadership on the Line by Heifetz and Linskey. We also conduct six "coaching calls" with Sandye Brown to discuss our skills and concerns as we work with our participating "coachee"(my victim is Mr. Hussey). We have met as a class 4 times with 4 more meetings scheduled between now and May.

I am very excited and optimistic that this experience will be of great value to MCHS and help us improve as an organization. I was fortunate to participate in leadership training through Motorola in the mid 1990's, the Gates project at Illinois State University in the early 2000's, and now Leadership coach training. I believe these experiences have all contributed to my development as an educational leader and also my quest to be a better person. I hope that the IASA leadership institute is able to hit the ground running and that school leaders see the value in improving their skills- for the sake of organizational improvement and increased student achievement. As Superintendent's, we are often expected to have the answers to every problem- this training has increased my awareness in the need to be a better listener, ask more meaningful questions, and help employees discover the leadership potential that may be "locked" inside!!! Continuous improvement is the key!!