Senior Executive Leadership Program

The Senior Executive Leadership Program for School Superintendents

This program is designed to advance experienced superintendents, with 3 or more years, to the next level of strategic leadership and advocacy for public education. This is accomplished through six learning courses. 

The first course occurs September 23-24, 2026, in Macon, Georgia and is focused on the individual members of the program.

Every day, leaders are making countless decisions and facing problems they’ve never encountered before. What worked yesterday can change overnight. The speed is relentless, and the stakes are high, but the rewards are great for those who can lead a team to consistently achieve extraordinary results. So how can leaders stay ahead of the curve and differentiate themselves and their teams when so much is changing so quickly? Meet The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership®. At the completion of this module, the superintendent will increase their abilities to:

• 1. Think BIG and adapt quickly.
• 2. Translate strategy into meaningful work.
• 3. Coach people to higher performance.

The second course occurs November 2-4, 2026, with a trip to the Milliken & Co training site in Spartanburg, South Carolina to study how a global organization defines a “common leadership language” to align a diverse workforce.  During our visit, we will learn how a global organization moved beyond “mission statements on a wall” to a lived organizational identity. Superintendents will learn to implement a values-driven framework that empowers every employee—from the front office to the facilities team—to take ownership of the district’s success. By observing their leadership model, you can see how a shared language of “associates” instead of “employees” fosters a sense of community and collective purpose.

The third course occurs February 2027 (dates TBD), in Atlanta, Georgia and is focused on increasing the superintendent’s ability to advocate for the students of Georgia. With the guiding question, “What do you now know that you wish you had known when you were a school superintendent?” the participants will learn from retired superintendents, and others, who are a part of Georgia’s educational ecosystem. The highlight of this module includes a behind the curtain look at:

• 1. The Georgia General Assembly’s Education Committees
• 2. The State Board of Education
• 3. The Georgia Department of Education
• 4. An All-Star Panel Discussion of Education Lobbyists

Fourth course is back in Macon, Georgia, March 24-25, 2027, and picks up where the first course left off. How do you inspire trust in yourself, your team, your community? Taking an inside – out approach, this two-day conference’s work is Franklin-Covey’s Speed of Trust Workshop. Major components include activities focused on:

• 1. Self-Trust
• 2. Relationship Trust
• 3. Organizational Trust
• 4. The Trust Huddle

The fifth course is also in Macon, Georgia April 28-29, 2027, and will focus on building high-impact governance teams.  In the complex landscape of district leadership, the relationship between a Superintendent and the Board of Education is the engine that drives student success. This interactive course moves beyond the basics of policy and procedure to exploring the art of collaborative governance. It provides a deep dive into the structures and behaviors that define effective governance teams. You will walk away with actionable strategies to align vision, navigate high-stakes decision-making, and build a culture of mutual trust.

The sixth course moves to Washington, D.C., July 6-8, 2027, and is the final component of the advocacy strand and of the program. Participants will learn of national trends and participate in AASA’s Advocacy Conference. AASA advocates for equitable access to the highest quality public education for all students. The goal of AASA advocacy is to influence federal education policy and legislation through the collective efforts of AASA members across the country. AASA’s advocacy is driven by a commitment to ensure that the voice of the nation’s public-school superintendents informs federal policy decisions.Feb