LEADERS OF LEADERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS: THE SUPERINTENDENT AND LEADERSHIP TEAM

The 2009 Administrative Leadership Institute (ALI) continues to seek answers to challenging questions at the highest levels: How are superintendents and other public school leaders recruiting, inspiring and mentoring secondary school principals to face the challenges of too many school dropouts, unstable test results, growing student diversity, campus conflicts, and finding and keeping highly qualified teachers?

Learn some practical solutions to these growing secondary school leadership issues at Texas’ "best 24-hour  conference"—ALI. Public school executives seek strategies to improve their leadership with secondary schools leaders and to help them create successful learning communities. Texas secondary principals are the "Straw that Stirs the Drink" to help all "Generic Kids" graduate from high school and lead successful, fulfilled lives. Gather November 18 & 19, 2009 at the College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Center to share ideas and insights that will make each of us better servant leaders for all secondary school principals and students.

On Wednesday morning, November 18, at 8:00 AM, the annual Golf Tournament will be held at the Texas A&M University course under the direction of Joe Pirtle. This is a fun event, and prizes are plentiful—even for the high scorers.

On Wednesday, November 18, at 1:15 PM, a panel of award-winning secondary principals will share insights about how superintendents empower to them lead staff and students to greater performance in Texas middle schools and high schools. The panel speakers are James Brewer, Principal, Longview High School; Susan Peterson, Principal, Weslaco East High School; Benny Soileau, Principal, Nederland High School; and Gabriel Trujillo, Principal, William Byrd Middle School in Duncanville. These award winners will discuss the current support they receive from their superintendent and suggest
ways that they can become more empowered in their roles as secondary school principals. Interaction with the panelists will add additional insights.

Chuck Norris, internationally acclaimed martial arts expert and film star, will headline Wednesday evening’s reception and banquet at the exclusive and nationally renowned Miramont Country Club in Bryan. Mr. Norris will address the success of KickStart, an intervention program for middle school students that is gaining success in public schools across the state. He will discuss lessons from the martial arts regarding the role of leaders leading leaders. In addition, Texas’ most prestigious Golden Deeds Award will be presented to John David Thompson III in recognition for distinguished service to education in the state of Texas. The John R. Hoyle Award will be given to distinguished Texas school leader Jeffrey M. Hanks; and the Paul R. Hensarling and T.M. Stinnett Awards will be given to outstanding graduate students from Texas A&M University.

On Thursday morning, ALI is honored to headline Dr. Richard Elmore, the Gregory R. Anrig Professor of Educational Leadership at Harvard University. Dr. Elmore is also co-director of the Connecticut Superintendents’ Network, a community of practice for superintendents engaged in the improvement of instruction. The richness and rigor of this session and its importance for Texas superintendents and public school executives cannot be overstated. If you must miss anything this year, don’t let it be Dr. Richard Elmore. Following Dr. Elmore’s presentation, table teams will discuss the implications of his remarks and the leadership responsibilities of superintendents and other leaders in inspiring and equipping secondary principals to achieve higher performance.

The retirement of ALI founder Dr. John R. Hoyle in August of 2009, ends 26 years of impassioned leadership of  Administrative Leadership Institute. Though Dr. Hoyle’s presence and guidance will continue to be sought after and appreciated, the leadership of this year’s Institute will be transitioned to co-directors Drs. Virginia Collier, Roger Goddard and Mario Torres, all of Texas A&M University. Drs. Collier and Torres have been involved with ALI for several years and are delighted to have Dr. Roger D. Goddard join the ALI team. They will bring new energy and creative ideas that will build on the ALI legacy of service to Texas schools and students. Dr. Goddard is developing an Education Leadership Research Center for the College of Education and Human Development. He came to Texas A&M in 2009 from the
University of Michigan with both school district leadership experience and a national reputation as a scholar. You will want to glean valuable information from all three of these new, able ALI leaders.

The Administrative Leadership Institute is a 24-hour venue where new and experienced school executives from across Texas can have informal dialog in an informal setting and innovative ideas can be shared in a warm, intimate and safe atmosphere. Don’t delay registering for this conference. It will be the best 24 hours you will spend this year. You will leave with creative and practical ideas that will empower secondary principals to be the best of the best.

Housing

A block of rooms has been reserved at the College Station Hilton & Conference Center, 810 University Drive East, College Station for the Administrative Leadership Institute.  ALI room blocks will be held at this rate until Tuesday, October 27, so please reserve early.  Call (979) 693-7500 for your reservations.  For online housing reservations, visit www.hiltoncs.com.  The rate is $99 single/double, payable to the Hilton.  In order to receive this special rate, indicate that you are attending the Administrative Leadership Institute.