NGLA Program Schedule & Format

Program Schedule 2009-2010

Session Format: Beginning with the November 3 session, the following session format will be followed. All sessions are held at the Jepson Alumni Center Pavilion at University of Richmond.

• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lecture
• 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 - 3:00 PM: Leadership Applied Sessions

• October 8, 2009
  • Welcome Luncheon, Program Orientation & Keynote
    Jepson Alumni Center Pavilion
    12:00 - 2:00 PM
    Keynote: Make a Difference, LEAD
    Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary, Director
    Center for School Improvement
    Virginia Commonwealth University
• November 3
  • What Is Leadership?
    Dr. Catherine S. Fisher, Director
    Teacher Licensure Program
    School of Continuing Studies
    University of Richmond
    - and -
    Dr. Waide Robinson
    Director, MSI Richmond
    School of Arts & Sciences
    University of Richmond
    Summary: This class will examine the basics of leadership and what it means to be a leader. It will go over concepts that are fundamental to leadership and will describe mechanisms on how to lead change in an organization. There will be discussion of what it means to be a leader, a follower and the importance of context in leading. Participants will examine current thinking on transformational leadership, transactional leadership, situational leadership, servant leadership, and many other theories. There will also be examination of the values of leadership that are necessary in leading a public school.
• December 8
  • Group Dynamics and Leadership
    Dr. Donelson R. Forsyth, Professor
    The Leo K. and Gaylee Thorsness Chair in Ethical Leadership
    University of Richmond
    Summary: Leadership can occur across great distances, as when a leader influences, and is influenced by, followers who are distributed across differing domains, but in many cases leadership is nested in an intact group that exists in a specific locale: teams, boards, advisory councils, and classrooms are all examples of groups that work toward shared goals under the direction of a leader. Because so much leadership takes place in groups, skilled leaders must understand the basic principles of group dynamics; the interpersonal processes that unfold in groups over time. This session will explore key aspects of interaction within groups, including development and cohesion (team-building), structure, communication and influence, power, performance, and decision-making. Session participants will be asked to refocus their attention on groups, rather than individuals in groups, and take note of aspects of groups that are sometimes overlooked by members, such as roles, patterns of influence, and norms. Participants will also, time allowing, be asked to contemplate their individual and group identities, identify ways to improve the functioning of the groups to which they belong, and examine closely the process by which groups make decisions and solve problems.
• January 12, 2010
  • Ethics and Leadership
    Dr. Douglas A. Hicks, Associate Professor
    Associate Professor of Leadership and Religion
    University of Richmond
    Summary: This presentation explores the moral dimensions of leadership, particularly in the context of primary and secondary education. Special attention is paid to the relationship of ethics to effectiveness; the special responsibilities placed upon leaders (e.g., administrators and teachers) because of the power of their position; the relevance of ethical theories (e.g., deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics) for ethical practice; the relationship of compassion and reason in ethics; and the nature of the school as a moral community.
• February 4
  • Leading Change for Organizational Allignment
    Dr. Robert Kelley
    President and Principal Consultant
    Pure Culture Consulting
    Summary: Leadership is the process of influencing followers to achieve organizational objectives through change. Organizations must constantly cope with unfamiliar events or situations in order to survive and stay competitive. Ultimately, the role of leadership is to facilitate change that results in better organizational performance. Dealing with constant change, or permanent white water, is not easy for most of us. This presentation will define the core elements of change and analyze why employees and cultures are so often resistant to it. The workshop will offer a prescription that the audience can use to lead the change in their lives and in their organizations more effectively.
• March 30
  • Leading and Communicating
    Dr. Jeanette (Nettie) Meluch
    Associate Professor of Management Development
    Robins School of Business
    University of Richmond
    Summary: While there are hundreds of different definitions of leadership, there is one component virtually everyone agrees with that is fundamental to effective leadership, and that’s the ability to communicate. All the visions, aspirations, and challenges are futile unless leaders can effectively communicate their message in a powerful way. In this workshop, you will have the ability to assess your communication style and how it impacts your message. You will be able to identify the strengths and limitations of your style and adapt your style for greater effectiveness. Finding your leadership “voice” is critical if you are to be seen as an authentic leader, and as someone whom people feel compelled to follow.
• April 29
  • Professional Leadership Panel: The final session prior to commencement will explore leadership as it is practiced daily by educational leaders in public schools. A professional panel of leaders representing all school divisions participating in NGLA will speak to a host of relevant leadership issues. These school leaders are in a unique position to offer insight on educational leadership and to work with students to construct bridges that span leadership theory and leadership practice. Panelists will each speak in depth on a leadership theme in their schools and lead an interactive dialogue with students. This session will help students further develop their personal leadership capacity and prepare to address important issues they will encounter as leaders in action.
• June 24
  • Book Discussion and Commencement
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Program Format
This information is also available as a diagram in PDF format (178 KB)

• Theoretical Sessions
  University of Richmond Center for Leadership in Education
  Discuss Readings and Present Papers on BlackBoard
  • What is Leadership?
  • Organizational/Group Dynamics
  • Relational Centered Leadership
  • Ethics and Leadership
  • Individual and Cultural Alignment
  • Communicating and Leading
  • Leadership for Transforming Change
• Practical Sessions
  Directors of Instruction, Local School Divisions
  • Using Data
  • Budget
  • Federal Programs/NCLB/Title I
  • Personnel
  • Exceptional Education
  • Specific LEA Issues
  • Working with Community
• Book Discussion/Mini Conference
  University of Richmond & School Division
  • National Leadership Expert
• Colleague Component
  • Formalized Mentor/Mentee Programs
  • Sessions with a Colleague from Local School Division