Turnaround Leadership Academy
Cohort 2: Begins June 2011
Please submit an interest form by March 1, 2011.
The Program
The Mississippi State University Turnaround Leadership Academy (TLA) is an innovative approach helping underperforming schools in Mississippi become successful. The program is modeled after the successful Darden-Curry Partnership at the University of Virginia (UVA) and draws upon previous strategies from the business world and applies them to education. Following the UVA program, the Colleges of Business and Education including the Center for Educational Partnerships at MSU have collaborated to bring this program to Mississippi. The program delivers to educators the type of executive education previously reserved for top level business leaders.
Who Should Attend
School leaders seeking dramatic school improvement and school leaders charged with turning around poor performing schools are encouraged to apply.
The Difference
This program is designed to build capacity at the district level and school level for dramatic change. We work with each district or school to identify the best potential team of leaders to train as turnaround specialists. Then, over a two-year period of time the team attends a series of training seminars.
The Goal
The TLA will build local leadership capacity better prepared to meet the challenges of school improvement and advance the ability of all school leaders to manage sustainable high performing schools.
Program Core Essentials
- Builds capacity of school leaders in fundamentals of school turnaround
- Provides districts guidance in developing leaders with high potential for success
- Develops local support in creating an environment for successful turnaround
- Provides real-time support to principals during the turnaround process
- Introduces proven processes and systems to the school improvement effort
Seminar Topics Include:
- Accountability
- Alignment
- Building 90-Day Action Plans
- Characteristics of Excellence
- Characteristics of High Performing Schools
- Creating a Culture of Collaboration
- Creating a Culture of Success
- Difficult Conversations
- Engaging Constituencies
- Influencing Public Perceptions
- Motivating and Sustaining Committed Teams
- Recruitment and Retention of Highly Qualified Teachers
- The Art of Influence
- The Knowing-Doing Gap
- Using Data to Drive Achievement
Schedule
The leadership program is delivered over a two-year period in a cohort group so that participants have a chance to learn, apply the learning, evaluate their programs, make adjustments, and learn more. Along the way, MSU is providing real-time support with on-site retreats, site visits, teleconferences, and online chats.
Cost
If your district is located in a Mississippi Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county designated as distressed or at-risk, and you enter the program in 2010 or 2011, the fee for the entire program is only $2,000. The fee includes everything except travel to and from the sessions. Once on location, lodging, meals, and material expenses are included. The fee also covers all on-site visits and technical assistance during the two years.
For non-ARC eligible counties, the fee is $5,000 not including travel expenses.
Note: School improvement/Title 1 funds may be used to cover expenses in many situations.
Typical Delivery Model
Summer Year 1: Turnaround Leadership Training [4 days]
Fall Year 1: District Retreat [1 day]
Winter Year 1: Mid-Year Leadership Seminar [2 days]
Summer Year 2: Summer Leadership and Planning [3 days]
Winter Year 2: Mid-Year Leadership Seminar [2 days]
Summer Year 2: Program Completion [1 day]
The schedule may be modified to better meet the needs of the districts. New cohorts begin at different times.
A Team Approach
We work with each district and school to identify the best possible team for training. Depending on the topic, some sessions may not require the attendance of every team member.
This program has been designed in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Education and the Darden-Curry Partnership at the University of Virginia. The program is substantially funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and support from the National Governors Association.
