The flurries died down by the time K12 leaders checked into The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah. However, a round of high-powered keynote speakers officially broke the ice on day one of last week’s District Administration Leadership Institute’s Superintendent Summit.
Kelsey Buek, senior business development representative from Apptegy, shot across the stage and livened up the audience by challenging them to develop a personal brand based on their core values. Superintendents who shared said they wanted to be known for courage, optimism and humility, among other traits.
Building a trusted brand became just one facet of a broader conversation leaders had about strengthening communications. Leaders discussed the pros and cons of hiring communications specialists who can offload some of the work of building a district’s reputation. During one roundtable, superintendents emphasized improving communications with internal team members when implementing new initiatives.
Some topics that leaders were hungry to tackle at DALI echoed national trends. Among them were:
- Student absenteeism/behavioral issues
- Post-ESSER funding
- Board relations
- Strengthening math test scores
One keynote on Thursday helped district leaders look at an age-old challenge with a new pair of eyes. Dana Godek, CEO of Edu Solve and a K12 consultant, stressed the importance of “learn on investment” rather than solely return on investment when reviewing budget cuts.
The leaders also revealed an increasing focus on supporting the mental health of educators and administrative staff. While the pandemic heightened awareness of students’ social and emotional learning needs, superintendents shared how they are trying to promote similar wellness initiatives for all community members.
Here are three initiatives leaders have started:
- Wellness incentive: Offer financial rewards to staff who complete their annual physical and consistently meet their movement goal.
- Free gym access: Teachers receive a free monthly membership to the YMCA.
- Morning walks: Once a month, staff meet before school to complete a 5-kilometer walk.
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