|
 The
18-month program is designed to provide practicing Illinois
superintendents with experiences that build exemplary knowledge and
skills essential for successfully impacting student achievement.
Wisniewski, who is in his third year as superintendent at
Hartsburg-Emden, was one of 25 superintendents who graduated from
ISAL during a ceremony May 11.
“All growth depends upon activity you do,” Wisniewski said. “The
Illinois School for Advanced Leadership (ISAL) has put me on a
never-ending journey of growth, improvement, and adversity; a
foundation in which a better tomorrow can be built.”
ISAL was developed in 2008 and is sponsored by the Illinois
Association of School Administrators (IASA), the statewide
organization that represents more than 1,600 public school
superintendents and administrators.
The
18-month program includes developing a personal professional growth
plan, as well as developing a district plan for student achievement
that includes conducting a comprehensive needs assessment.
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Each of the ISAL students are assigned a veteran superintendent
as a coach. In addition, ISAL participants also study the superintendent’s role
through five leadership lenses: 1) facilitator of shared moral purpose, 2)
change agent, 3) relationship/culture promoter, 4) capacity builder, and 5)
coherence maker.
IASA Executive Director Brent Clark said the goal of ISAL is to create a new
level of leadership in public education.
“Given all of the challenges facing superintendents and public education in
Illinois, we thought it was important to provide a unique opportunity through
rigorous curriculum, training and experiences for those men and women who were
willing to push themselves beyond what is expected of a superintendent,” Clark
said. “Everyone talks about return on investment, and in this case it will be
making a difference in public education.”
[Jason Nevel
IASA Asst. Director of Communications] |
