How do school leaders move PLC teams beyond compliance and toward meaningful collaborative learning? In this session, leaders will use the new Conditions for Effective Collaborative Teams guide to examine the systems, leadership practices, and cultural conditions that strengthen professional learning, improve tier 1 practices, and foster collective efficacy. Through discussion, reflection, and systems analysis, leaders will identify priorities for growth and determine practical next steps to strengthen collaborative practices and improve student outcomes across their schools and departments.
As school administrators, we are often caught in the gap between maintaining a safe, orderly building and ensuring that students feel supported. The Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST) model offers a powerful framework, but how do we scale its most impactful elements across schools? This collaborative, hands-on professional learning session is designed specifically for school leaders to integrate components of BIST into their daily practice, coaching, and school-wide systems. The BIST elements of skills-based coaching, common language, predictability, early intervention, and caring confrontations will be explored.
When I heard the quote on the Strategic Action Agenda — “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems” — my first thought was “that would make a great tattoo.” My second was that it would be a great session. My goal is to give you just enough systems thinking to be dangerous. We'll explore feedback loops, leverage points, and the structures quietly running our schools — without disappearing into the theoretical weeds. We'll also dig into practical tools. Because understanding your system is only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to push.
Tired of the "revolving door" of office referrals? Traditional punishment stops behavior temporarily, but it rarely changes it. Based on current research on restorative practices, this session will support school administrators with moving beyond student compliance to achieve student accountability. Attendees will gain an understanding of the principals of restorative practices and leave with tools to help move your school from a system of consequences to a culture of growth.
This session is designed to equip school leaders with practical tools to communicate clearly and effectively. Participants will receive tips and best practices for showcasing positive stories and crafting engaging newsletters. The session will also cover writing strategies for community messages during incidents, news media insights and procedures, and leveraging AI to support communication. Attendees will leave with strategies to streamline messaging, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure their school's story is shared with impact.
What if your most impactful mentor has nothing to do with your job title? This session introduces HR Horizons, a mentoring model that intentionally pairs employees across roles and departments rather than by job alignment. Through a walkthrough of the program's monthly themes, hands-on activities, and real examples, attendees will learn how to build a mentoring initiative that strengthens peer-to-peer learning, cross-role collaboration, and fosters a sense of belonging among staff across schools and departments. Participants will leave with practical ideas for creating mentoring structures that help employees feel known, supported, connected to the mission, and engaged in meaningful professional dialogue beyond their immediate role or setting.
This presentation will empower school administrators to modernize volunteerism, aligning with Goal 4 of Compass to 2030. Leaders will learn to replace inefficient generic tools, which often cause "sign-up fatigue" and fragmented data, with centralized system, SignUpGenius Enterprise. The focus will be on leveraging automated reminders and reporting dashboards to track participation and ensure operational accountability. Administrators will master a three-phase roadmap—set-up, launch, and growth—to transform school-wide engagement into a professional, data-driven operation that supports student achievement.
Ever wonder what happens between submitting a media request and seeing a post on social media? This session pulls back the curtain on the process and shows school leaders and staff how they can become stronger partners in sharing their school stories. Participants will learn practical strategies to improve event coverage requests, increase visibility through tagging and branded hashtags, and support timely, engaging content creation. The session will also provide guidance for schools interested in launching or strengthening their own social media presence while aligning with division expectations and best practices. Attendees will leave with actionable tips to help elevate and celebrate their school communities.
School leaders are increasingly navigating emotionally charged, high-stakes situations where there is no perfect script, no clean answer, and no easy resolution. This session explores how leaders can remain grounded, responsive, and accountable while navigating conflict, pressure, competing perspectives, and complex human behavior.
When I heard the quote on the Strategic Action Agenda — “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems” — my first thought was “that would make a great tattoo.” My second was that it would be a great session. My goal is to give you just enough systems thinking to be dangerous. We'll explore feedback loops, leverage points, and the structures quietly running our schools — without disappearing into the theoretical weeds. We'll also dig into practical tools. Because understanding your system is only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to push.
Navigating employee issues requires both compliance knowledge and strong leadership practices. Led by HR Employee Relations and School Division Attorneys, this interactive session will help administrators build confidence in addressing employee concerns with clarity, consistency, and professionalism. Through real-world scenarios, guided policy walkthroughs, and documentation exercises, participants will strengthen their ability to navigate complex situations while fostering a professional culture where staff feel supported, respected, and connected to the division’s mission. Attendees will leave with practical tools to lead timely conversations, locate and apply policies effectively, and support positive working relationships within their schools and departments.
