Nearly 400 Spring ISD leaders will be gathering Monday at Dekaney High School for the district’s first ever Spring ISD Leadership Institute, which will feature four days of speakers, sessions and networking.

The event kicks off two weeks of dedicated professional development this summer for both administrators and teachers. In July, also at Dekaney High School, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in their own event to be held from July 19-22.

“We’re committed to providing opportunities for all of our staff to learn and grow,” said Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney E. Watson. “In fact, a growth mindset is essential to our Leadership Definition as we encourage everyone to actively seek ways to improve their craft, whether it’s the practice of teaching and leading students in a classroom or leading a team or department. Learning is what we do in Spring ISD.”

For next week’s Summer Leadership Institute, the days and corresponding sessions are organized around the district’s Leadership Definition with Monday dedicated to Leadership, Tuesday focused on Outcome-Driven, Wednesday for Service-Oriented and Thursday for Relationship-Centered.

“While the Leadership Definition and the Effective Schools Framework are at the heart of our Summer Leadership Institute, we’re also going to be looking at the role of equity in ensuring excellent outcomes for all students,” said Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, the district’s chief of Innovation and Equity. “We’re very excited about our keynote speakers whose expertise in transforming  urban schools will educate, motivate and inspire.”

They include Dr. Alex del Carmen, associate dean of the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies at Tarleton State University, Darryl Williams, the co-managing director of the Teach Like a Champion Team, Dr. David L. Banks, president Noble Success Strategic Group, and Baruti Kafele, principal of four turnaround schools. In addition, Watson and Hinojosa will also deliver remarks.

Hinojosa expects about 400 district leaders will be attending the four-day event, which will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day with time built in for networking, thought sharing and collaboration among teams. To learn more about the event, please see the schedule here.

“We’re looking forward to seeing all principals, assistants and associates at the event as well as select campus leaders,” Watson said. “This is going to set the stage as we continue to prepare and plan for the 2021-22 school year, which will be so important for our students as we put the pandemic behind us.”