School Leadership Team Training Modules
Please note that UPA member Parent Associations and Parent Teacher Associations receive a 20% discount on all workshops .
1. Background and History of School Leadership Teams:
Highlights and timelines of key governance initiatives will be explored and explained in this workshop. Participants will be briefed on Decentralization Laws and school governance legislation to date. The workshop will look at the methods by which SLTs are required to exist and operate in accordance with NewYork State Education Law.
Time: 90 minutes
2. School Leadership Team Composition, Structure & Functions:
Participants will learn about the required SLT composition, size and how it is determined, as well as how members are elected. The workshop will also look at basic responsibilities of SLT members, role of subcommittees and the primary SLT functions of CEP and budget.
Time: 120 minutes
3. Role of Parents on School Leadership Teams:
Explores the role of parent SLT members representing the larger parent constituency and responsibilities as team members. Participants will learn effective communication methods with parent constituents and the wider school community. The workshop will also delve into details of parent elections for SLT.
Time: 120 minutes
4. Communication:
Ineffective communication is often at the root of conflict and an obstacle to building a functional team. In this workshop participants will identify the range of key players with whom they have to communicate, including parents, principals, teachers, support staff etc. Participants will learn techniques for effective communication, particularly active listening, and learn how these techniques can diffuse conflict and enable collaboration.
Time: 120 minutes
5. Effective Meetings:
This workshop will address the question of what constitutes an effective meeting. Participants will also establish key elements necessary to hold and conduct a productive meeting at their school. Topics including but not limited to:
- · Establishing ground rules
- · Key meeting roles (chair/facilitator, recorder, etc.)
Time: 120 minutes
6. Decision-Making:
The core to any effective team is its ability to reach a decision that team members can support. Participants will explore different decision-making models and how to build consensus. Resolving conflicts is a skill for teams to master in order to produce meaningful and necessary work together. Conflict resolution skills and terminology will be introduced as part of this workshop.
Time: 120 minutes
7. School Leadership Team Bylaws:
Bylaws are the governing document of any organization. Without bylaws the organization is non-existing or ceases to exist. This workshop will explain what bylaws are, why we need them and the process for developing and amending them. Participants will also learn the minimum requirements for SLT bylaws and how to individualize and/or make them unique to their school.
Time: 120 minutes
8. Alphabet Soup
One of the biggest obstacles to effective parent participation on School Leadership Teams is the use of education lingo by school staff. Common education acronyms, terms and jargon will be explored and explained in this workshop. Participants will learn how to ask questions and not be intimidated with the goal of leveling the playing field for parents.
Time: 90 minutes
9. Assessment and Evaluation:
In this workshop the latest information on Assessment and Evaluation will be presented to the participants, including . They will also explore student testing, what it means and how it relates to the learning standards. The workshop will introduce participants to the Annual School Report Card and the use of other school data, especially as it relates to developing the CEP.
Time: 180 minutes [2 sessions of 90 min. each is recommended]
10. Meeting Higher Learning Standards:
Participants will review the Higher Learning Standards adopted by the NYS Regents for grades K-12, in the context of the national movement towards higher standards, and how they impact on curriculum and testing. They will also learn to assess whether students in their school are meeting the standards & focus on incorporating new strategies into their CEP.
Time: 120 minutes
11. Improving Team-Building Skills:
This workshop will explore strategies on how to get your team to function as a working body. Through a variety of hands-on methods, small group activities and role-playing, the participants will learn the importance of teamwork, the value of including and fully utilizing all members, and how to develop and maintain a functioning School Leadership Team.
Time: 120 minutes
12. Setting School Goals & Objectives:
Participants will gain an understanding of the planning cycle and define goals and objectives. The workshop will include activities to teach participants how to write realistic goals and measurable objectives. (Usually followed by #13 Creating Action Plans)
Time: 90 minutes
13. Creating Action Plans:
Too often the best ideas and strategies are poorly implemented or never carried out at all. In this workshop, participants will learn what an Action Plan is and how to create one. There will be a focus on developing activities to meet objectives and delegating responsibilities to ensure that plans are implemented effectively. (Usually preceded by #12 Setting School Goals & Objectives)
Time: 90 minutes
14. Developing the Comprehensive Education Plan [CEP]:
The CEP is the school’s blueprint for success. This workshop will explore the purpose and content of a Comprehensive Education Plan with participants. All stakeholders should have input into the development of their CEP. The process for developing a basic CEP and the role of parents and SLT members in doing so will be presented with a special emphasis on student academic achievement and a clear focus on instruction.
Time: 180 minutes [2 sessions of 90 min. each is recommended]
15. Budgets & Budgeting:
This workshop will cover basic budget structure and function, discuss how schools are funded and teach participants how to read and understand budgets. Performance-driven budgeting will be defined and different funding sources and flexibility will be explored. Participants will engage in small group activities to learn how to align the budget with their CEP.
Time: 180 minutes [2 sessions of 90 min. each is recommended]
16. Exploring Strategies for School Improvement:
This workshop will introduce participants to some of the research and models, including New York State Education Department models, for school improvement. Participants will also be encouraged to share ideas and best practices and resources for further exploration will be provided.
Time: 120 minutes
17. Increasing Parent Involvement:
Participants attending this workshop will learn about different types of Parent Involvement and how it impacts on student achievement. Emphasis will be on strategies that School Leadership Teams can use to maximize Parent Involvement and enhance student performance in their school.
Time: 120 minutes
18. Regulations for School Leadership Teams:
This workshop will introduce participants to Department of Education regulations and policies that govern SLTs. The workshop will include a review of the Chancellor’s Plan for School Leadership Teams [Green Book] as well as the latest “Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About School Leadership Teams”.
Time: 120 minutes
19. Monitoring Implementation of the Comprehensive Education Plan [CEP]:
In this workshop participants will learn the importance of reviewing CEP goals and objectives on a regular basis and evaluating whether objectives are being met. There will also be an emphasis on conducting ongoing assessments of student needs.
20. School Leadership Team & PA/PTA Working Together:
Too often we hear that, with the advent of the School Leadership Team the PA/PTA is suffering from a lack of participation. In this workshop participants will learn that the SLT should not usurp the PA/PTA, but rather needs to work together with it to reach out to the parent body. Emphasis will be on the formal relationship between the SLT and the PA/PTA, as well as improving ties between the two.
Time: 90 minutes
Fees
90 minutes workshops:
Up to 25 participants, one facilitator, $350.
26 to 50 participants, two facilitators, $600
120 minute workshops
Up to 25 participants, one facilitator: $400
26 to 50 participants, two facilitators: $650
For more than 50 participants, call for fee information.
Please note that UPA member Parent Associations and Parent Teacher Associations receive a 20% discount on all workshops .
The following professional development sessions are designed to enhance leadership skills and develop effective parent leaders. UPA offers workshops specifically tailored for PA/PTA officers as well as current and prospective members of School Leadership Teams. In addition, many of the topics are appropriate for parents who are not in leadership positions. These sessions equip parents with the skills necessary to better understand their role as it relates to their child’s education as well as to the wider parent constituency. All workshops include hands-on activities as well as the most up-to-date and relevant information available.
Fees listed are per workshop and are based on length of the session, the number of participants to be served, materials required and the number of facilitators needed. Discounts are available for series of three or more workshops as well as for UPA member schools (call UPA office for details).
1-Day MINI-RETREAT
The United Parents Associations has services that we will provide for training and facilitation workshops at your 1-day Parent Leadership Retreat for up to 24 participants. UPA’s fees and services offered are as follows:
UPA will participate in one pre-retreat planning meeting with your committee to determine the workshop topics, types of activities and other details of the retreat. For the retreat itself, we will provide two (2) trainer/facilitators to conduct workshops and other activities that have been mutually agreed upon. We will also provide all of the handouts and materials for any workshops provided.
For the above-referenced services, UPA will charge a flat fee of $1,200.
Should the size of your group be larger than that specified above, (or if you would like to have more than 2 facilitators for this event) UPA would provide additional trainers for an increase in fees as follows:
For 25 – 36 participants, requiring three (3) facilitators, the fee would be $1,600.
For 37 – 48 participants, requiring four (4) facilitators, the fee would be $2,000.
For 49 – 60 participants, requiring five (5) facilitators, the fee would be $2,400.
For more than 60 participants, please contact us for a quote.
Should you have any questions about the foregoing, or need any additional information, please don’t hesitate to UPA. We thank you for this opportunity to serve your parents.
2-Day
RETREAT
The United Parents Associations has services that we will provide for training and facilitation workshops at your off-site location, overnight Parent Leadership Retreat. 2 days to be held from Saturday through Sunday for up to 24 participants. UPA’s fees and services offered are as follows:
UPA will participate in one pre-retreat planning meeting with your committee to determine the workshop topics, types of activities and other details of the retreat. For the retreat itself, we will provide two (2) trainer/facilitators to conduct workshops and other activities that have been mutually agreed upon. We will also provide all of the handouts and materials for any workshops provided.
For the above-referenced services, UPA will charge a flat fee of $2,400.
Should the size of your group be larger than that specified above, (or if you would like to have more than 2 facilitators for this event) UPA would provide additional trainers for an increase in fees as follows:
For 25 – 36 participants, requiring three (3) facilitators, the fee would be $3,200.
For 37 – 48 participants, requiring four (4) facilitators, the fee would be $4,000.
For 49 – 60 participants, requiring five (5) facilitators, the fee would be $4,800.
For more than 60 participants, please contact us for a quote.
Should you have any questions about the foregoing, or need any additional information, please don’t hesitate to UPA. We thank you for this opportunity to serve your parents.
3-Day
RETREAT
The United Parents Associations has services that we will provide for training and facilitation at your off-site location, overnight Parent Leadership Retreat. 3 days to be held from Friday, through Sunday for up to 24 participants. UPA’s fees and services offered are as follows:
UPA will participate in one pre-retreat planning meeting with your committee to determine the workshop topics, types of activities and other details of the retreat. For the retreat itself, we will provide two (2) trainer/facilitators to conduct workshops and other activities that have been mutually agreed upon. We will also provide all of the handouts and materials for any workshops provided.
For the above-referenced services, UPA will charge a flat fee of $3,000.
Should the size of your group be larger than that specified above, (or if you would like to have more than 2 facilitators for this event) UPA would provide additional trainers for an increase in fees as follows:
For 25 – 36 participants, requiring three (3) facilitators, the fee would be $4,000.
For 37 – 48 participants, requiring four (4) facilitators, the fee would be $5,000.
For 49 – 60 participants, requiring five (5) facilitators, the fee would be $6,000.
For more than 60 participants, please contact us for a quote.
