Leading independent schools is becoming more and more challenging in an increasingly complex world. We know that personal and programmatic assessments don’t create plans in themselves. And even if there are emergent, well-intentioned plans from these assessments, they often fall short of creating the necessary changes required to address today’s challenges. What is needed for today’s independent school leader is an on-going partnership in the development of specific action steps with the supportive accountability to implement these steps. This is why school leadership coaching today (often referred to as executive coaching) is more important than ever.
Coaching is different than mentoring, since mentors usually play the roles of advisor and teacher to guide and impart knowledge and wisdom. It is different than training, where the trainer sets the agenda. Coaching is focused on the school leader’s learning and practices that result in improvements in his or her context.
We have developed a comprehensive package to best support school leaders through the coaching process. This includes:
• Completing the Hogan Assessment to identify the leader’s specific strengths & challenges;
• Meeting via video-conferencing twice a month for five months;
• Providing resources that support the action steps; and
• Being available via email anytime during the five months.
Requests for coaching can be made to Rod Chamberlain at Rod.Chamberlain@SouthernTeachers.com or Jenn Scully at Jenn.Scully@SouthernTeachers.com. This will initiate a conversation that will address any questions by the school leader and facilitate the scheduling of the Hogan Assessment to start the coaching process. Together, our executive coach and the school leader will work together over the next five months to optimize strengths and address challenges through increased self-awareness and enhanced leadership practices.
Dr. Rod Chamberlain has served in leadership positions in independent schools in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Hawai`i, and North Carolina for over 35 years. He brings three components to coaching: (a) proven independent school leadership, (b) International Coaching Federation certification (the largest coaching organization in the world), and (c) Hogan Assessments certification.
Contact Rod at Rod.Chamberlain@SouthernTeachers.com.
Dr. Jenn Scully, who has served in different leadership roles in an independent school in New York for 30 years, currently teaches executive coaching at Marymount University (MD). An expert in social-emotional learning, she is also certified in the use of Hogan Assessments.
Contact Jenn at Jenn.Scully@SouthernTeachers.com.