Our Community

How we work

We provide district and system leaders with strategic communications resources and strategies within a trusting community of peers so that they may navigate their environments intentionally and advance their student-centered priorities. Member benefits includes:

Learning Cohorts

  • One in-person convening and four virtual sessions, with virtual peer coffee chats over the course of 15 weeks
  • Cohort sessions are grounded in a leader’s problem of practice and include an expert briefing + resources that superintendents can immediately apply

Direct support and tailored referrals

  • Strategic advisors available for just-in-time assistance to navigate particularly intense or complex situations
  • Connections with partner organizations that can lean in to priorities adjacent to strategic communications (e.g., academic strategy, talent recruitment)

Virtual Community

  • Monthly briefing sessions and superintendent roundtables, a password-protected resource library, Slack channels for peer and expert connectivity

Testimonials

  • As a new superintendent, I knew I needed to develop my communication and organizational development skills. The entire experience, and the detailed time used to develop trust with the group, was refreshing, reinvigorating, and exactly what I needed to tackle the challenges in my school district.

    Laura Jacob, Ed.D., Superintendent, California Area School District (PA)

  • Great opportunity to establish connections and learn from others across the country realizing that while we come from differing places and differing organizational structures, we have far more in common than we may realize. 

    Diane Kornegay, Lake County (FL)

  • This is the place to seek advice from reputable colleagues. You will leave stronger and ready to confront your challenge.

    Zipporah Hightower, Skokie School District 73.5 (IL)

  • Just do it! You won’t regret it! You need this; we need this!

    Monique Felder, Orange County (NC)

  • This is a safe environment that promotes critical thinking, best practices, and real shared experiences. All of which can validate your current efforts or give you a new way of thinking.

    Dr. James Gray, Jefferson Parish Schools (LA)

  • You should join. The cohort will help you improve communication, messaging, and relationships with stakeholders.

    Tricia McManus, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (NC)

Resources

Leading Now members have access to a wide range of resources: communications checklists, leadership values exercises, stakeholder mapping tools, suggestions for school board collaboration. Here’s a taste: