A Professional Development Program for District Leaders

The First Ring Leadership Academy (FRLA) provides emerging district leaders with the expanded knowledge base and skills to empower others and transform their districts. Participants will:

1. Attend seven sessions throughout the year that will be held at the ESC of Northeast Ohio or select First Ring Districts

2. Study the challenges impacting education through a lens of research & current thought leadership

3. Explore the challenges facing First Ring districts including equity, poverty, mobility, cultural diversity & the achievement gap

4. Identify critical issues for deeper study, discussion, case analysis & debate

5. Network with fellow district leaders from around the First Ring to share best practices and collaborate on improving the educational landscape in Northeast Ohio.
   
   

Program Goals

The First Ring Leadership Academy will create job-embedded, experiential learning opportunities for leading change initiatives, differentiating management from leadership (identifying why both are necessary and when) and identifying and managing group dynamics. Participants will sharpen their communication skills and self-understanding and identify opportunities to broaden their own leadership abilities. They will develop an expanded network of colleagues for assistance and support and broadly expand their thinking around how to address a variety of current, real-world case scenarios. Participants will be exposed to international thought leaders in education and will acquire a broader repertoire of research-based and future-focused leadership, intentionally curated to elevate their own skill sets