Register for the 2023-24 New Superintendents Leadership Academy!
Your first few years as a superintendent require enormous growth as a leader. The New Superintendents Leadership Academy was created to support superintendents who are new to the position, as well as superintendents who want to continue to grow and build new strengths in this tough but rewarding job.
The New Superintendents Leadership Academy offers nine in-depth sessions throughout the year to give you the skills and insight to excel as a superintendent. These sessions bring together experts who have one goal: Preparing you to succeed as a superintendent.
All MASA members who register for the full series will have a mentor coach throughout the year. Download our flyer.
The day-long sessions focus on:
- Intro to NSLA/Leadership
- Governance and Board Relations
- Personnel and Negotiations
- Finance and Funding
- Teaching and Learning
- Equity and Social Justice Leadership
- Policy, Law, and Legislation
- Communications and Media
- Leadership Revisited
Cost: $2,400 MASA Member/$2,800 Non-Member
Location: MELG Building, Lansing*
1001 Centennial Way, Lansing
*Sessions rotate between in-person and virtual, with the first session (August) being virtual. The September session will be held at the MASA Fall Conference, and the January session will be held at the MASA Midwinter Conference.
For more information, contact MASA Deputy Executive Director Dr. Sarena Shivers at sshivers@gomasa.org.
August 23 from 9:30-11
Welcome, Overview, and Introductions.
Note: This session will be virtual
This session of the New Superintendents Leadership Academy will be in conjunction with the MASA Fall Conference. The focus of this session will be on building cohesive governance teams and strategies to fostering and developing positive relationships with board members and other key stakeholders.
Note: This session will be in-person at the 2023 Fall Conference
Agenda
| 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM | MASB and Board Governance |
| 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM | Leadership on the Line Introduction (Book Study) |
| 9:50 AM – 10:00 AM | Break |
| 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Board Member Panel |
| 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM | Research and Case Studies/Scenarios |
| 11:15 AM – 11:25 AM | SET-SEG Presentation |
| 11:25 AM – 11:30 AM | Wrap Up and Adjourn |
This session will provide for superintendents with a deeper understanding of sound personnel practices, collective bargaining and how to create and maintain effective working relationships with your union leadership.
This session will be virtual
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Personnel and the Superintendency |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Group Activity |
| 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Labor Relations, Contract Negotiations, and Bargaining |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Group Networking Time |
Money, money, money. Participants in this session will hear top 10 school finance lessons for new superintendents, along with helpful tips from experts on budgeting, school bonds, and securing grant funding.
Note: This session will be in-person
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | School Finance Essentials for Superintendents |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Group Activity |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | School Bonds |
| 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | School Finance Tool |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Group Networking Time |
The superintendent is the lead learner in their district. This series will focus on strategies of instructional excellence, educational trends, promising practices and relevant research in teaching and learning for all learners, grades P-20.
Note: This session will be in-person at the 2024 Midwinter Conference
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Hanover Research: Trends and Issues in Education |
| 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM | Michigan Virtual |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Spotlight on Literacy |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Spotlight on Mathematics |
| 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Group Activity and Networking Time |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Wrap-up and Next Session |
The superintendent plays a crucial role and is responsible for ensuring that their district disrupts and dismantles racial, economic and other social injustices and inequities in their district. It starts with each one of us. This session will provide the basics on how to get started in this important work.
Note: This session will be virtual
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | What Does Equity and Social Justice Mean? |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | What Does Cultural Relevance Look Like in the Classroom? |
| 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Group Reflection Activity |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Beyond Equity Professional Learning Series Update and Wrap Up |
Participants will leave this session with an in-depth understanding of policies and administrative regulations. How can the superintendent help their board through policies, establish the direction and structure of the school district? Participants will also receive relevant legal, federal and state legislative updates.
Note: This session will be in-person
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Thrun Law Firm |
| 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Break |
| 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Policy and Administrative Guidelines (NEOLA) |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM | State and Federal Legislative Update |
| 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM | Group Activity |
| 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM | Networking Team Time |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Wrap Up/Adjournment |
This session of the New Superintendents Leadership Academy will focus on communications. Participants will review communication strategies when dealing with social media, the news media, and in a crisis. Participants are encouraged to bring their executive assistants since they are key to successful communication at the district level.
Note: This session will be virtual
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM | Leadership Book Study |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Social Media and the Superintendency |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Examining Your Communication Marketing Plan |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | When Things Go Wrong – Crisis Communication |
| 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Crisis Communication Panel Discussion |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Wrap Up/Adjournment |
The superintendent is responsible for and takes care of everyone. But what about the superintendent?? In our last session, we will revisit key leadership takeaways and focus on how to succeed and maintain the superintendency through self-care and building a personal and professional support system.
Note: This session will be in-person
Agenda
| 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Welcome, Introductions |
| 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Leadership on the Line Wrap-Up |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Superintendent Guests |
| 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Break |
| 2:15 PM – 4:00 PM | Superintendent Guests |
| 4:30 PM | Networking Reception |
| 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Dinner TBD |