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School Leader Paradigm
OptionsAdmin Academies
Each Admin Academy is designed to develop and support learning leaders leading learning organizations.
On-Demand Academies
IPA's On-Demand Academies offer administrator academy credit in an on-demand format.
ELN Courses
Available to all public school educators at no cost, ELN courses provide high-quality, on-demand content on the ELN platform. Don’t have access? Go here.
Becoming a Global Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Global leaders recognize the collective value of diverse social networks and the...
Becoming a Global Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Global leaders recognize the collective value of diverse social networks and the capacities that arise from these networks to accomplish goals together and view the school in the context of the broader society.
Becoming a Resilient Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) This course provides an opportunity for leaders to explore their personal behaviors,...
Becoming a Resilient Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) This course provides an opportunity for leaders to explore their personal behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and dispositions by completing learning activities that require review, analysis, and reflection on the skills and dispositions needed...
Becoming a Responsive Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) This course will provide an opportunity for leaders to explore their personal...
Becoming a Responsive Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) This course will provide an opportunity for leaders to explore their personal behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and dispositions by completing learning activities that require review, analysis, and reflection on the skills and dispositions...
Becoming a Self-Confident Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Self-confident leaders are aware and comfortable with their personal strengths and...
Becoming a Self-Confident Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Self-confident leaders are aware and comfortable with their personal strengths and weaknesses, celebrate others’ accomplishments, seek opportunities to learn and develop, listen to others’ ideas, accept both challenges and support, and...
Becoming a Strategic Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) The strategic school leader exhibits the ability to anticipate, challenge, interpret,...
Becoming a Strategic Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) The strategic school leader exhibits the ability to anticipate, challenge, interpret, decide, align, and learn strategically. Researchers have found that strength in one skill cannot easily compensate for a deficit in another.
Becoming a Visible Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Visible leaders actively practice the role of community leader, including high...
Becoming a Visible Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Visible leaders actively practice the role of community leader, including high visibility in the community and advocacy for community causes, leading to trust and rapport between school and community.
Becoming a Visionary Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Visionary leaders build a group vision as a guide for making all decisions.
Becoming a Visionary Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Visionary leaders build a group vision as a guide for making all decisions. They model visionary behavior because they believe vision is contagious.
Becoming a Way-of-Being (Self) Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Way-of-Being leaders have the ability to self-lead.
Becoming a Way-of-Being (Self) Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Way-of-Being leaders have the ability to self-lead. They can acknowledge and explore emotions, deepen self-knowledge and self-awareness, and build reflective abilities in order to achieve goals and act strategically.
Becoming an Advocative Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Advocative leaders develop implicit relational knowledge of the educational system...
Becoming an Advocative Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Advocative leaders develop implicit relational knowledge of the educational system through keen attention to human interest and need; they actively advocate for students, teachers, and school with local, state, and federal policy makers.
Becoming an Affiliative Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Affiliative leaders value people and their feelings, seek to accomplish tasks and...
Becoming an Affiliative Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Affiliative leaders value people and their feelings, seek to accomplish tasks and goals while appreciating the needs of students and staff, emphasize harmony, and build team resonance.
Becoming an Analytic Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Analytic leaders possess the ability to adopt a data-driven analytic approach to...
Becoming an Analytic Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Analytic leaders possess the ability to adopt a data-driven analytic approach to decision-making, promote the ability of other educators to influence the learning environment based on data and implement effective systems to expedite the...
Becoming an Articulate Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Articulate leaders adhere to high standards and exhibit a proficiency to clearly...
Becoming an Articulate Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Articulate leaders adhere to high standards and exhibit a proficiency to clearly convey and promote the mission, vision, and direction of the school while conveying intentions, roles, and responsibilities to all stakeholders.
Becoming an Optimistic Leader
(PD Hrs. 2) Optimistic leaders remain steadfast personally and professionally in the face of...
Becoming an Optimistic Leader
(PD Hrs. 2) Optimistic leaders remain steadfast personally and professionally in the face of adversity; believe adversity can be overcome; look on the positive side of situations, and are positive when others cannot see beyond problems and risks to find...
Becoming an Organized Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Organized leaders plan and accomplish things in a prioritized, orderly manner.
Becoming an Organized Leader
(2 PD Hrs.) Organized leaders plan and accomplish things in a prioritized, orderly manner. These self-management-oriented behaviors help ensure that the leader monitors and takes responsibility for their behavior and well-being, personally and...
Ethical Considerations for School Employees
(2 PD Hrs.) By Brian Schwartz - This workshop fulfils the statutory requirement found in Article...
Ethical Considerations for School Employees
(2 PD Hrs.) By Brian Schwartz - This workshop fulfils the statutory requirement found in Article 10, Section 22 mandating that every 5 years all school employees complete training on educator ethics and school employee and student relationships.
Ethical Considerations for School Employees (2023 - 2024)
(2 PD Hrs.) By Brian Schwartz - This workshop fulfills the statutory requirement found in Article...
Ethical Considerations for School Employees (2023 - 2024)
(2 PD Hrs.) By Brian Schwartz - This workshop fulfills the statutory requirement found in Article 10, Section 22 mandating that every 2 years all school employees complete a workshop on educator ethics and school employee and student relationships.
Evaluating Assessment Alignment
(3 PD Hrs.) This course will help the educational leader demonstrate the ability to provide...
Evaluating Assessment Alignment
(3 PD Hrs.) This course will help the educational leader demonstrate the ability to provide structures and processes that ensure congruency between assessment, curricular content, and instructional methods, effectively communicate to stakeholders a...
How to Save a Life: Preparing for a Heart Emergency at Your School
(3 PD Hrs.) While it is required for high school students to be trained in CPR/AED, there is not a...
How to Save a Life: Preparing for a Heart Emergency at Your School
(3 PD Hrs.) While it is required for high school students to be trained in CPR/AED, there is not a requirement for teachers or staff to receive training.
Leadership@Work Part I - Becoming a Dynamic and Effective Leader
(3 PD Hrs.)By Karen Wagnon - Improve your personal intelligence!
Leadership@Work Part I - Becoming a Dynamic and Effective Leader
(3 PD Hrs.)By Karen Wagnon - Improve your personal intelligence! Becoming a dynamic and effective leader is about understanding behaviors and leadership styles. This course offers you vital insights towards becoming a greater leader.
Leadership@Work Part II - Understanding Needs and Drives to Become a More Effective Leader
(3 PD Hrs.) By Karen Wagon. In this course, the participants will have an understanding and...
Leadership@Work Part II - Understanding Needs and Drives to Become a More Effective Leader
(3 PD Hrs.) By Karen Wagon. In this course, the participants will have an understanding and distinguish the difference between ”internal needs" and "external drives" necessary to become a more effective leader.
Leading Teaching and Learning: High-Quality Questioning
(4 PD Hrs.) By Gail Huizinga - This course strengthens a school leader’s ability to analyze and...
Leading Teaching and Learning: High-Quality Questioning
(4 PD Hrs.) By Gail Huizinga - This course strengthens a school leader’s ability to analyze and evaluate effective questions and questioning techniques designed to deepen student thinking and learning.
Mental Health and School Violence
(0 PD hrs.) This Illinois Terrorism Task Force video discusses how various school districts in...
Mental Health and School Violence
(0 PD hrs.) This Illinois Terrorism Task Force video discusses how various school districts in Illinois are providing mental health services to students, and the role this plays in a school violence prevention plan.
Opioid Overdose Management in the School Environment
(2 PD Hrs.) Presented by James Reimer, Jessica L. Kerr, and Garth K. Reynolds.
Opioid Overdose Management in the School Environment
(2 PD Hrs.) Presented by James Reimer, Jessica L. Kerr, and Garth K. Reynolds. This course covers the Illinois Public Act 99-0480 which allows trained school personnel to administer an opioid-blocking medication to a person having an opioid overdose...
Opioid Overdose Management in the School Environment (2023 - 2024)
(2 PD Hrs.) Presented by James Reimer, Jessica L. Kerr, and Garth K. Reynolds.
Opioid Overdose Management in the School Environment (2023 - 2024)
(2 PD Hrs.) Presented by James Reimer, Jessica L. Kerr, and Garth K. Reynolds. This course covers the Illinois Public Act 99-0480 which allows trained school personnel to administer an opioid-blocking medication to a person having an opioid overdose...
Personalized Professional Development
(5 PD Hrs.) By Adam Geisen and Mike Wielgus, Triad CUSD #2.
Personalized Professional Development
(5 PD Hrs.) By Adam Geisen and Mike Wielgus, Triad CUSD #2. This course guides the participant in creating a personalized professional development planning model driven by an analysis of available data and the interests/needs of the professional staff.
Micro-Credentials
These skills assessments on the ELN platform allow you to showcase your leadership effectiveness as a school leader, earning Admin Academy Credit and recognition on your Professional Educator License.
Building Internal Relationships
Building Personal Relationships
Implementing Social-Emotional Wellness
Communication Advocacy
Communication Standards
Fostering a Data Literacy Culture
Collaborative Leadership Coaching
Directive Leadership Coaching
Reflective Leadership Coaching
Allocating and Assigning Personnel
Evaluating Operational Systems Effectiveness
Leading a Culture of Safety
Driving Vision and Mission
Assessing the Learning Environment
Evaluating Assessment Alignment
Creating a Culture of Self-Reflection
Operational Systems
Personnel
Resources
Building Internal Relationships
Building Personal Relationships
Driving Appropriate Change
Personal Professional Learning
Driving Vision and Mission
Leading Vision and Mission
ELN Webinars
Learn from educational experts from across the country about important issues of the day.
51:13
The Firearms Restraining Order: A Violence Prevention Tool for Illinois
December 5, 2025
The Firearms Restraining Order: A Violence Prevention Tool for Illinois
The Illinois State Police (ISP), Office of Firearms Safety (OFS) is proud to announce the launch of the Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) Outreach and Training Program, a new statewide initiative designed to strengthen public safety and save lives. Through this program, OFS will provide training and education to law enforcement agencies, school administrators, and community resource centers across Illinois. The goal is to raise awareness of the Firearms Restraining Orders as a viable tool for preventing gun violence and self-harm, while also ensuring that those who may petition for or enforce a FRO have the knowledge and resources to do so effectively. The program will also work to promote statewide consistency in how FROs are implemented. Special attention will be given to addressing inequities, ensuring that high-risk individuals and communities facing barriers to support have access and information to the protection FROs can provide. This initiative reflects the Illinois State Police's commitment to preventing tragedies before they occur and fostering strong partnerships with communities across the state.
57:24
Social Media and AI Literacy: Everyone’s Problem, Every School’s Challenge
December 3, 2025
Social Media and AI Literacy: Everyone’s Problem, Every School’s Challenge
Devices, social media, and AI are designed to hook us into overuse, and no one is immune. This has snowballed into a time-consuming, costly burden on schools. This session, led by Jane Kim, shares a systems approach to social media and AI literacy that can change behaviors and school culture.
58:12
Life Happens, Then They Teach: Unlocking the Power of Second-Career Educators
November 18, 2025
Life Happens, Then They Teach: Unlocking the Power of Second-Career Educators
This webinar, led by Dr. Stephanie Fike, is designed to help school districts understand the significant advantages of hiring and supporting second-career educators. Attendees will learn how these professionals bring diverse perspectives, a wealth of real-world experience, and a unique set of skills that can enrich the learning environment. The session will highlight the value of tapping into this untapped talent pool, emphasizing how second-career educators often possess strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. Additionally, the webinar will provide strategies for school districts to better support, and retain these educators, ensuring that they feel valued and equipped to thrive in their new roles. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how second-career educators can strengthen their teaching teams and positively impact student outcomes.
56:44
From Classroom to Career: Practical Strategies for K-12 School Leaders
November 5, 2025
From Classroom to Career: Practical Strategies for K-12 School Leaders
The world of work is changing fast. As school leaders, we have a unique opportunity to help students not just keep up but thrive by developing the skills they will need to navigate an ever-changing future.
Denise Mytko from Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development invites you to a webinar that will introduce labor market trends likely to shape future job opportunities and share strategies for fostering career exploration within a school community. You’ll learn practical ways to help students identify their strengths, explore a range of career paths, and prepare for the challenges and opportunities in the workforce.
This session is perfect for school leaders looking to build a culture of career readiness and equip educators with tools to actively engage students in their career exploration at any age.
56:36
Your Systems, Your Leadership: Setting Yourself Up for Success Through Organizational Routines
October 29, 2025
Your Systems, Your Leadership: Setting Yourself Up for Success Through Organizational Routines
It is a whirlwind! An emergency room. A speeding highway of events, happenings, moving parts, and more--and you are in charge of it! You need this course in your life--Your Systems, Your Leadership by Andrew Marotta. This course has the "top 10" of techniques, strategies, and mindsets you need to survive and thrive in your day, week, month, and school year. Join Andrew for this fun, practical, and purposeful session.
44:42
Transforming Tragedy: How Unexpected Loss Shapes Emotionally Intelligent Leaders
October 1, 2025
Transforming Tragedy: How Unexpected Loss Shapes Emotionally Intelligent Leaders
This powerful presentation explores the lived experiences of elementary school principals who have faced unexpected, traumatic loss—and how those experiences influenced their emotional intelligence and leadership style. Through their deeply personal narratives, four key themes emerged: the importance of human connection, emotional insight, service to others, and finding purpose beyond loss. Join presenter Kimber Larson to discover how these leaders transformed grief into growth, offering fresh insights for leadership development, self-awareness, and the role of empathy in education.
56:43
Unlocking Human Potential: The Power of Story to Build Resilience, Character, Trust and Transparency
September 24, 2025
Unlocking Human Potential: The Power of Story to Build Resilience, Character, Trust and Transparency
This experience, led by Rebecca Francis and Devon LaRosa, is designed for educators and educational leaders who seek to deepen their impact by leading with authenticity, empathy, and intentionality. At its core, "Unlocking Human Potential" recognizes that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we possess to humanize education and re-center connection in a system that too often prioritizes compliance over compassion.
Through storytelling, we move beyond transactional interactions and into transformational relationships. Stories invite us to name our struggles, celebrate our resilience, and embrace the complex, beautiful work of becoming. When educators and leaders share stories—of growth, challenge, identity, and change—we open the door for:
Resilience to take root in our school cultures,
Character to be modeled and nurtured in real, human ways,
Trust to be built authentically, not assumed,
And transparency to become a cultural norm, not an exception.
This session offers more than theory—it offers space. Space to reflect, to tell truth, to listen deeply, and to grow. It is an invitation to recognize the stories we carry and the stories our students and colleagues carry, and to use those narratives as bridges—toward belonging, equity, and possibility.
Because when we share our stories, we don’t just build community—we unlock human potential.
51:40
Resilience & Technology: Leading Through Change
September 17, 2025
Resilience & Technology: Leading Through Change
Technology is evolving faster than ever, and school leaders must navigate innovation while fostering a strong school culture — without feeling overwhelmed. This interactive session, led by Barbara Applebaum at The Social Institute, will explore how education leaders have adapted to past technology shifts and provide practical strategies for tackling today’s digital challenges, from A.I. in student work to misinformation and evolving school policies. Through real-world examples, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities, attendees will strengthen their leadership skills and ensure their school’s approach to technology remains proactive, not reactive.
45:58
Rethinking School Lunch: A Principal’s Guide to Fresh Food
September 10, 2025
Rethinking School Lunch: A Principal’s Guide to Fresh Food
This webinar is for principals who care about student well-being and want to explore what’s possible in the cafeteria. You’ll hear how school leaders are making small, smart changes that lead to fresher, healthier meals for kids, without needing to be food experts. Join presenter Greg Christian for easy next steps, real examples, and ideas you can use right away.
56:31
Finding Balance in the New Year
August 28, 2025
Finding Balance in the New Year
In this webinar, Jason Major of Chicago will go through each component of the wellness wheel and give practical tips and resources to help keep you fresh and mindful throughout the school year. He likes taking science-based ideas and making practical recommendations based on the webinar participants. Anyone looking to keeping themselves grounded or to do something different in the new school year would bet something from this webinar.
56:07
Beyond the Flames: From Tragedy to Championships Through the Power of Public Education
August 28, 2025
Beyond the Flames: From Tragedy to Championships Through the Power of Public Education
As a 13-year-old teenager, Jason Booher survived the nation’s worst drinking and driving crash—the Carrollton Bus Crash—where 27 lives were lost in a fiery tragedy. With the support of public educators, he overcame unimaginable adversity and went on to achieve his dream of winning the KHSAA Sweet 16 Kentucky high school boys basketball state championship as a head coach. Now a superintendent, Jason shares his powerful journey of resilience, leadership, and the life-changing impact educators have on students, especially those facing hardship. This session will inspire, motivate, and remind educators that their influence extends far beyond the classroom—it can shape lives, build dreams, and create champions.
53:10
Balancing the Now & the Future
May 7, 2025
Balancing the Now & the Future
As the school year winds down, effective principals face the unique challenge of finishing strong while strategically planning for what’s next. This session led by Kevin Spainhour provides school administrators with practical tools, reflection templates, and leadership habits to help balance end-of-year priorities while helping to set a clear vision for the upcoming school year.
Participants will walk away with ready-to-use resources, a system for leadership planning, and actionable strategies to ensure the final months of school build momentum rather than burnout. Finish strong, plan smart, and lead your school with confidence.
52:33
Bridging the Gap: How School Counselors, Administrators, and Teachers Collaborate For All Students
April 30, 2025
Bridging the Gap: How School Counselors, Administrators, and Teachers Collaborate For All Students
This presentation will explore the vital role of school counselors in fostering student success by collaborating effectively with administrators and teachers. Presenter Patrick Wildman will highlight how counselors support academic achievement, social-emotional development, and career readiness through proactive communication, data-driven interventions, and a team-based approach. Strategies for building strong partnerships, addressing student needs holistically, and creating a positive school climate will be discussed. Attendees will leave with practical insights on maximizing collaboration to ensure the success of all students.
55:42
The Teacher Team Leader: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration
April 23, 2025
The Teacher Team Leader: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration
Join presenter Chad Dumas to uncover the role, responsibilities, assumptions, and mindsets of effective teacher team leaders, plus explore a handful of simple, go-to moves, techniques, and strategies that will transform team collaboration. As a result of this experience, participants will…
- Understand the three key responsibilities of the team leader in a PLC
- Uncover assumptions and mindsets for successful team collaboration
- Explore a handful of simple actions that transform team functioning
58:51
Empowered Futures: Tools to Strengthen Your Students' Mental Health
April 9, 2025
Empowered Futures: Tools to Strengthen Your Students' Mental Health
This session will provide attendees with practical tools to create inclusive school cultures around mental health, introduce auxiliary resources such as student and staff awareness into action activities, and offer opportunities to engage in activities that can be brought into school classrooms. These activities can be implemented in school buildings as part of a strategy to strengthen Tier 1 universal programming. Participants will learn how utilizing student voice can promote meaningful conversations around the topic of mental health and promote help-seeking as an early identification and prevention strategy. Participants will receive access to free Tier 1 mental health programs and resources.
54:02
The Art of Communication
February 13, 2025
The Art of Communication
So, so, so many aspects to the ART of communication. Andrew Marotta dives deep into this subject, which can make or break you as an educator. Andrew breaks it down into three areas: The one-on-one meeting, the large setting, and everything else. Andrew explores storytelling, listening skills, and techniques to help you thrive in your communication and interactions with others in the school setting! He will share concepts such as E+R=O, 8-37-55, and how to tell the right story at the right time to the right people!
53:54
Leading & Learning: A Systems Approach to Create a Culture of Collaboration
February 5, 2025
Leading & Learning: A Systems Approach to Create a Culture of Collaboration
The session, led by Ann Cummins Bogan, will balance theory, research, and practical strategies for creating a collaborative systems approach that intentionally engages the perspectives of all members of the school community. We will share foundational research and theory about the impact of collaboration and partnerships on school climate and student achievement, providing an opportunity for reflection on current practice.
ACB’s Six Building Blocks for Effective Systems will be shared along with specific tools and strategies for creating or refining school leadership teams focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning with students at the center.
55:23
Developing Your Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
January 30, 2025
Developing Your Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
Join Andrew Marotta LIVE on this journey of becoming more self-aware of yourself as a person, educator, and leader. Andrew challenges your thinking and has you perform several powerful exercises to deepen your thoughts on your own emotional intelligence on the journey of uplifting and inspiring others. Looking back at events, projects, and contests and asking yourself and others: What went well, what didn't, and how could I have been better? How do we absorb feedback like this and grow from it? Andrew will walk you through the steps and even examine building your own personal motto/logo.
57:29
Team Toxins Navigating Conflict and Growth in the Workplace
November 20, 2024
Team Toxins Navigating Conflict and Growth in the Workplace
In this presentation, we explore John Gottman's "4 Horsemen," rebranded as "Team Toxins," to address common communication pitfalls among coworkers. These toxins—criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling—often surface during times of adversity and growth. By identifying and addressing these behaviors, educators can navigate conflict more effectively, foster healthier professional relationships, and build a stronger, more collaborative school environment.
54:11
What's At Stake? School Culture
November 15, 2024
What's At Stake? School Culture
This webinar will help participants identify and engage with numerous stakeholders to positively impact schools. Register to learn assessment strategies, tactics for engagement, and keys to positive changes in your school.
57:00
Stronger Schools Start with You: Practical strategies to lead with clarity, capacity, and care
1 day ago
Stronger Schools Start with You: Practical strategies to lead with clarity, capacity, and care
Every strong school begins with a strong leader. This interactive session led by Dr. Charles Williams will help you cut through the noise of daily demands and focus on what truly matters. You’ll learn how to lead with clarity, reclaim your capacity, and cultivate care for both your team yourself.
50:23
The Whole School Approach: Driving Academics & SEL Together
last Wednesday
The Whole School Approach: Driving Academics & SEL Together
The Whole School Approach (WSA) is a research-based framework that engages the entire school community including teachers, staff, families, and administrators to support both students’ academic growth and social-emotional learning (SEL). Rather than isolating interventions to specific programs or personnel, WSA integrates curriculum, school culture, and community partnerships to ensure all students have equitable access to support. The research conducted by presenter Dylan Farley and others shows that schools implementing WSA see improvements in academic outcomes, student engagement, and emotional well-being. By fostering shared responsibility and coordinated strategies, WSA creates a consistent, supportive environment where students can thrive academically and socially. This approach is practical and adaptable, providing schools with actionable strategies to address diverse student needs effectively.
55:10
Mastering School Communications: Building Clarity, Trust, and Community Ambassadors
February 11, 2026
Mastering School Communications: Building Clarity, Trust, and Community Ambassadors
Effective communication is one of the most powerful tools school leaders have to shape culture, build trust, and strengthen community partnerships. In this session, Dr. Neil Lesinski will explore strategies for aligning internal and external communications so that messages are clear, consistent, and engaging. Participants will also learn how to empower staff, parents, and students to serve as authentic ambassadors, amplifying your district’s story and reinforcing a shared vision. Practical examples and actionable takeaways will help your team elevate communications from routine updates to meaningful connections.
1:00:06
The Benefits of Being a Trauma Informed School and Why It’s Important: A Principal’s Story
January 28, 2026
The Benefits of Being a Trauma Informed School and Why It’s Important: A Principal’s Story
During this session, presenter Jeff Sefcik will share Stanton School's story of being a targeted school due to chronic absenteeism to earning a commendable status in just one year. Last year, with Jeff at the helm, Stanton School received its second consecutive commendable rating because of the committed work he and his staff did and continue to do as a trauma-informed school. Jeff will share how his staff, including the bus drivers, became certified trauma-informed specialists, how to improve daily routines and practices by being resilience-focused, and how changing the mindset from punitive to "Opportunities to Be Better" have impacted the student's behavior and social emotional growth. Stanton School's growth is validated by the data through significant improvements in student behaviors and daily attendance.
57:44
Our Words Matter: Building Belonging in our School Community
January 21, 2026
Our Words Matter: Building Belonging in our School Community
This professional development session led by Desi Kobayashi will support school leaders in building knowledge, language, and strategies to effectively respond to harmful identity-based language and behaviors. Through this interactive session, participants will gain both conceptual understanding and practical tools to recognize and interrupt harmful language by cultivating practices that build empathy, cultural competence, and community responsibility. Using restorative circles, community agreements, and language resources, participants will learn how to speak up, listen deeply, repair harm, and strengthen relationships across differences.
Resources
Anchored to the School Leader Paradigm, IPA Resources provide tools to support learning leaders leading learning organizations.
School Leader Entry Plan
The School Leader Calendar
Cycle of Inquiry
School Leader Evaluation Plan
School Leadership That Fits
Salary, Benefit, Career Planning & Job Satisfaction Study
School Leader Paradigm
School Leader Paradigm: The Research
Ensuring Effective and Sustained Principals for Every Illinois Community
The Illinois Principal: Their Work, Their Challenges, Their Impact
School Leader Paradigm: The Learning Resources
School Leader Hiring Guide
MSH Subscribers Only
Pages
About IPA
School leadership matters . While this may seem intuitive, research has now made it very clear. Principals and their leadership teams influence student and adult performance in their schools by: ...
About IPA
Our Why School leadership matters. Our Vision Effective, sustained educational leaders for every Illinois school community.
Awards and Scholarships
The Horace Mann/IPA Junior High/Middle School Principal of the Year Awards program annually recognizes outstanding middle school leaders who have succeeded in providing high quality learning...
Awards and Scholarships
The Horace Mann/IPA High School Principal of the Year Awards program annually recognizes outstanding high school leaders who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for...
Apply to be a Mentor/Coach
Serving as a mentor or coach for another school leader is a rewarding experience. IPA mentors and coaches receive in-depth training and continuous support to maximize their success supporting others.
Coaching Services
All leaders must continue to develop their leadership skills so that they can be the best possible leader for their educational environment.
Mentoring & Coaching
School leaders (principals, assistant principals, deans, district office administrators, and department chairs) face unique challenges as they transition into new career roles.
ELN Micro-Credentials
About ELN Micro-Credentials Since 2017, the IPA, in conjunction with the state principals associations throughout the country, set out to create a proficiency-based system of validating a school...
Overview
W e at the IPA with our friends in the School Leader Collaborative (the Collaborative) have worked together to develop an ever-growing suite of professional learning and resources to support school...