August 12th & 13th, 2008
Arlington, VA
The YouthBuild USA Education Department is excited to announce its’ upcoming 3rd Annual Instructional Leadership Institute. Across YouthBuild, Program Directors and Instructional Leaders are challenged with creating powerful educational environments for their students, often feeling torn in many different directions by the pressing needs of the young people. Leaders struggle with managing the multiple demands of fundraising to keep the doors open; fully developing their students; helping them master a trade; passing the GED or getting a Diploma; and preparing for the rest of their lives. Ultimately, instructional leaders are faced with the question: Is all of this enough?
This Instructional Leadership Institute is meant to support you in your leadership role, helping you to foster a school environment that strives to create program and staff cohesion and make the most out of the short time we have with YouthBuild students. Come and learn more about how to re-tool your program and increase your influence to address the new demands of academic achievement and post-secondary education placement without losing sight of the many other important aspects of YouthBuild.
The challenge is tremendous and can be overwhelming, so we applaud you!
2008 Institute Focus
During last year’s Institute we introduced the Instructional Leadership Rubric, which allowed participants to examine the Essential Elements of Effective Instructional Leadership and reflect on their practice and their program’s level of proficiency in the Essential Elements.
This years Institute will take it a step further, building new understanding by collaboratively defining the practice that yields these essential elements. The Institute presents an opportunity for participants to build skills and knowledge through learning sessions, working groups, and the sharing of best practices in Instructional Leadership. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our current and desired practice and to re-commit ourselves to putting new knowledge into action when we return to our YouthBuild schools/programs. We hope you will join us for two days of sustained learning and peer sharing that will support you as you get ready to begin another academic year. We invite each NSI site to send an Executive Director and/or Principal to this gathering.
2008 Facilitators & Learning Sessions
Opening Session: Five Essential Elements for Effective Instructional Leadership
The Instructional Leadership Rubric provides the benchmarks by which educational leaders can assess their own level of proficiency in achieving a high performance teaching and learning environment. The Rubric serves us best when we know and understand the concepts contained in the Five Essential Elements for Effective Instructional Leadership and our work approximates the best practices. We will work review the rubric collaboratively, develop an enhanced understanding of these best practices and create evidence statements to demonstrate what it looks like and sounds like when a leader is performing at a proficient or advanced level as defined in the rubric.
This opening session will be followed by a highly interactive multi-media discussion of effective instructional leadership practices using film clips showing teachers and educators at work and demonstrating different approaches to instruction.
Opening Session & Main Facilitator: Karen Jackson Gould
About Karen Jackson Gould
Dr. Karen Jackson Gould is a consultant for the YouthBuild USA education department, focusing her work with educational leadership development and support. Dr. Gould, who received her doctorate from Indiana University, served as a school administrator for 24 years, both as a school principal and a district assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She received the honor of Indiana Principal of the Year and was named a National Distinguished Principal by the US Department of Education. Her other consulting work is in the areas of small high school and early college high school development, school improvement planning, and collaborative team development. She also serves as an adjunct professor with Indiana University’s Principal Preparation Program in the area of Education Measurement.
Session ONE: Instructional Leadership Development
“No organization can rise above the constraints of its leadership.” Great performance does not happen by accident; leaders make it happen. Successful school leaders know how to create positive relationships and cultures that lead to strong sustainability and successful outcomes. Participants will explore how to make the most of the relationships that are at the core of performance, with real trust and leadership skills that make clear, candid communication possible. They learn to use these skills in their personal relationships and to model and apply them on the job. This workshop is designed to get folks thinking, acting and delivering their innate leadership skills in positive ways.
Facilitator: Michelle Duhart
About Michelle Duhart
Michelle Duhart is a consultant for the YouthBuild USA education department. As an independent consultant for the past ten years Ms. Duhart delivers strategic consultation, training and technical assistance to communities and schools nationwide regarding youth development and juvenile delinquency issues that focus on comprehensive prevention planning, leadership and community development. Ms. Duhart has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She has spent 24 years in the prevention, intervention, juvenile justice, and youth development fields empowering youth, families, schools and communities surrounding problem behaviors (gangs, substance abuse, school dropout, violence, teen pregnancy, delinquency & mental health) that impede positive youth development. Ms. Duhart has worked with a myriad of federal, state, local, national public/private entities and corporations and has served on numerous boards, committees, task forces and advisory groups in addition to reviewing federal grants.
Session TWO: Fostering School Climate: Tips, Tools and Techniques
This workshop will provide educators with effective strategies to improve school climate and provide opportunities to exchange ideas with other educators who are successfully implementing evidence based programs. The workshop will focus on climate specific issues such as classroom management, staff relationships, school facility, high expectations, student-staff cohesion and support, teaching skills, and opportunities for student participation. The presenters will engage participants in a series of individual and group activities, discussions, and review of latest research and approaches to stimulate ideas that can be integrated into their schools. A presentation will be made by a current principal, who has been recognized for outstanding leadership for creating a successful school environment using local and national resources. Participants will leave the workshop with resources, strategies and tools that can be used to enhance their school environment.
Facilitators: Sarah Buford, Brenda Taylor-Hines, and Linda Knight
About Sarah Buford
Sarah C. Buford is a native Arkansan and a graduate of a Le Moyne- Owen College and The University of Memphis both in Memphis, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Education in Reading. As an experienced career educator she has taught high school and college English, reading and language arts. At Le Moyne-Owen College, Ms. Buford taught English and reading, and developed the Learning Resource Center to supported the college’s efforts to provide tutorial assistance and independent study. Ms. Buford has worked with both prospective and practicing teachers in various capacities for over 25 years. She’s served on a number of teams charged with evaluating schools and academic programs. Ms. Buford is currently an adjunct Instructor at the University of Mississippi and is also an independent consultant working with teachers to help them adjust their instructional patterns to accommodate a variety of learning styles, improve social skills and promote employment success.
About Brenda Taylor-Hines
Brenda Taylor-Hines is an independent consultant who serves as a facilitator and trainer for community based organizations, schools, the faith community, colleges and national organizations. One of her goals is to teach and demonstrate the importance of collaboration, use of evidence based curricula and research based frameworks as tools to mobilize communities and implement change. She has a Masters of Science in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Science. She also graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Social Science. During the past 25 years, she has worked as an administrator, clinician, consultant and trainer in youth development, prevention including substance abuse, delinquency, school drop-out, teen pregnancy and violence. Ms. Taylor-Hines is currently a consultant and trainer for the Hazelden Foundation, Morehouse School of Medicine, YouthBuild, the Genesis Coalition and several local coalitions in Georgia.
About Linda Knight
Linda Knight is a principal in the Euclid School District in Euclid, Ohio. She graduated from Kent State University with a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1991. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies in 1975 from Case Western Reserve University. Ms. Knight has 17 years of teaching experience in private and public schools and 10 years experience as a principal. A few of her accomplishments include being nominated for a Leadership Award sponsored by the Buckeye Area Superintendent’s Association in ‘2008, a Fulbright Scholar in 2006, serving on the Euclid Professional Development Committee in 2003, developing and implementing Saturday School, an alternative to suspension program for students in grades K-12, the Middle School Summer Institute and a member of the Northeast Ohio Principals Academy where she served as a mentor. She is active in the Euclid School community and was involved in the Professional Learning Communities, Academics Achievement Team, Family, Business and Schools Committee and Language Arts Chair. Training for Principals through SMART (Science and Math Achievement Required for Tomorrow Consortium and has successfully implemented a number of programs to improve student reading scores, increase academic success and programs to build positive relationships with teachers, students and parents.
The YBUSA Education team is currently working diligently preparing what we believe will be a rewarding 3rd Annual Institute that is stimulating and informative.
We look forward to seeing you there and please know that we welcome at any time (pre, during, and post the conference) your need to seek our assistance. We are committed to every Network member having a great experience!
Also, don’t forget to read more about our upcoming NSI Conference taking place during the same week in Arlington, VA, August 13th – 15th.
Event Location
Travel
Lodging
Special Requests
Cancellation policy
Event Location
Holiday Inn National Airport @ Crystal City
2650 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Tel: 1.703.684.7200
This full service Crystal City hotel is located minutes from Reagan National Airport, the Pentagon, and 23rd Street restaurant row. Take advantage of the free wireless high speed Internet and complimentary transportation to Metro and the Pentagon.
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Travel
Institute begins on: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 7:30AM
Institute concludes on: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:00PM
Book your air travel to arrive into Reagan National Airport (DCA). To insure better rates, begin to arrange travel immediately. Attendees should arrive on August 11, 2008 (any time during the day) and depart on August 13, 2008 (after 3pm). Please note that YouthBuild USA does not cover or reimburse travel expenses to NSI sites for participation in this training. Travel may be covered with funds from your NSI grant and counted as travel for professional development.
Directions:
From Reagan National Airport (DCA)
• Distance: 1 MI / 1.61 KM East to Hotel
• Complimentary Airport Shuttle
• Taxi Charge (one way): $5.00 (USD)
• Time by taxi: 5 minutes
• Follow signs to exit airport Route 1 south. 1/4 mile on right Holiday Inn.
From other surrounding airports, train station, and/or driving directions – please go directly to hotel website.
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Lodging
As in our past Institutes, YouthBuild USA does not pay for the cost of lodging for this training. Funds from your NSI grant may be used to pay for the cost of lodging and counted as professional development. Our YouthBuild group rate is $169.00 single & double occupancy per night.
Attendees will not need to make their own reservations. The Education Department will provide the hotel with a rooming list of all attendees and maintain communication with the hotel on the behalf of participants.
Check-in time: 4:00pm
Check-out time: 12:00pm
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Special Request
We do our best to serve foods that are acceptable to everyone. There will always be a vegetarian option for meals and pork will be limited to breakfast menus only. If your diet requires us to make special arrangements, please send an e-mail to sbostick@youthbuild.org .
If you have any physical limitations or require specific housing accommodations in order to make your stay more comfortable, please send an e-mail to sbostick@youthbuild.org .
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Education Department Registration policies
Early Departure Fee
In the event a guest who has reserved a room within our block checks out prior to the guest’s reserved check out date, the Hotel will add an early departure fee of $25.00 to that guest’s account. If that guest is on the YouthBuild USA master bill, YouthBuild USA will charge the school/program $25.00 post the conference. To avoid an early departure fee, guests should advise the Hotel before or upon check-in of any change of their departure date.
Late Check-In Fee
In the event a guest who has reserved a room within our block checks in after the guest’s reserved check in date, the hotel will still charge that guest the full room rate, which will be added to that guest’s account. The hotel may also cancel that guest’s entire registration if they are not advised before check-in. If that guest is on the YouthBuild USA master bill, YouthBuild USA will charge the school/program any additional charges post the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your registration and attendance, you must notify the Education Department at sbostick@youthbuild.org and also contact the hotel within 24 hours of your scheduled arrival date.
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If you have any additional questions or concerns about your registration or this gathering, please contact Shurie W. Bostick
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