NWAIS Emerging Leaders Institute

Program Description

Emerging Leaders is a two-year cohort-based program to support and develop independent school leaders in taking their next step in their career. That may be toward taking on new responsibilities in your current role or taking on something completely new. Participants will meet monthly via video-conference, attend NWAIS professional development programming and annual ELI retreats.

Participant Profile

Ideal participants may be currently serving in a variety of positions within their school including teacher, administrator, or staff and actively seek leadership opportunities outside of their role. Teacher candidates should be able to demonstrate leadership beyond their classroom, such as serving as a grade level leader, dean, department chair, self-study coordinator or task force chair. Administrators and staff who currently serve as instructional coaches, division heads, assistant heads, admissions officers, business managers, and development director will also be strong candidates. Participants should be able to articulate their vision for the next step in their leadership journey.

Components

Over the course of the two years participants will participate in:

• Monthly zoom meetings with their cohort. These will have a mix of content delivery and discussion. Zoom meetings will take place from 3:45-4:45 in the afternoon, on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
• Six coaching sessions (three per year) with someone currently serving in a leadership capacity in an NWAIS school. These will focus on problems of practice and supporting your personal leadership journey.
• Two day-long retreats to kick off each year’s learning and develop the cohort as a team and learning community
• Participation in several NWAIS programs including:
  • Fall Educators Conference (2018, 2019)
  • New Trustees Workshop (2019)
  • Institutional Leadership Conference (2019)
  • Leadership Institute (2019)
  • Two additional NWAIS single-day workshops of your choice (2018, 2019)
• Attendance at NAIS & POCC Encouraged – Price not included

Outcomes

Over the course of the two years participants will:

• Build meaningful and transformational relationships with facilitators, cohort members and presenters and coaches.
• Develop skills and knowledge in core areas of school and organizational leadership.
• Have time for reflection and personal growth resulting in a set of documents to help propel you in the next phase of your career including:
  • CV / Resume
  • Ed Philosophy Statements
  • Diversity Philosophy Statements
  • Leadership Philosophy Statements
  • Career Roadmap

Tuition

$2,250 per year for NWAIS school employees
$2500 per year for ACIS (Association of Colorado Independent Schools)
school employees

Tuition is inclusive of all components and event registration fees. Travel and housing during conferences are not included. NWAIS attendees can utilize the NWAIS travel share program to defray some of these costs. We recognize that this is a significant investment for individuals and schools, and would like to make it accessible by spreading out the cost over the two years.

The following is the schedule of fees

• August 1, 2018: $2,250
• August 1, 2019: $2,250

If you are able to pay for the entire course upon enrollment NWAIS would be happy to offer you a discount of 5% for a total of $4275 for the two year course.

This program is open to those working in NWAIS and ACIS schools. If you are not employed by a NWAIS or ACIS member school and would like to participate, please contact Emily McGrath to see if you may qualify for a waiver.

Eligibility

The Emerging Leaders Institute will serve approximately 20 participants. The first cohort will begin with a required retreat on August 18, 2018. The application will help you and the selection committee assess if this is the right time in your career to take on this program.

Application Components

1. CV / Resume
2. Endorsement from current Head of School: An endorsement stipulates that the Head of School is aware that you are applying and is supportive of your participation. Link to endorsement form will be included.
3. Recommendation from supervisor. Link to recommendation form will be included.
4. Application including the following short essay questions

• Why are you choosing to apply for this program?
• Describe how you have actively sought leadership opportunities in your school.
• Describe your vision for your career journey. How do you see it developing in the next 5-10 years? Please include the impact do you hope to have through your work.
• How do you see yourself contributing to the richness of your cohort?
• In which areas do you see the most potential for growth during the program?
• Describe your personal and professional journey around diversity and equity. What do you remain curious about? What questions are you hoping the program will engage in this area

Application

tip: Consider drafting your answers to the above questions in advance and then entering them into the form

Endorsement

Please forward this link to your head of school, so they can approve your taking on this program

Recommendation

Please forward this link to your supervisor, if your Head of School is your immediate supervisor, use this link

Application and Decision Timeline

March - April 2018 - Applications Are Open

May 1, 2018 - Applications are due

June 1, 2018 - Inaugural Emerging Leaders Institute Class Announced

Program Dates

Participants may select to attend one additional NWAIS single-day workshop of their choice in each academic year.