Our
Workshops & Seminars

EmpowerEd: Leadership, Innovation, and Excellence in Education Summit

Mission Statement:
At EmpowerEd, our purpose is to develop the future of education by empowering leaders and teachers with the tools for innovation, inspiration, and strategies for quality enhancement. Through collaborative exploration delivered in a workshop format we aim to elevate school quality and prepare institutions for continuous improvement and accreditation readiness. Join us in shaping an inspired, innovative, and excellent educational landscape.

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Summit Agenda for Leaders

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Conference Schedule

08:00 - 08:45 | Registration and Welcome

• Participants sign in and receive their welcome packs and vinyl badges. Then, there will be an informal meet-and-greet with coffee and light refreshments.

09:00 - 09:30 | Keynote 1: “If the Gold Rusts, What Will the Iron Do?”

• Speaker: Dr. Greg Robbins

• Overview: Dive deep into the qualities and characteristics of effective leaders, exploring how 3º to 6º of change at a time results in a change of course for the leaders and his/her school.

09:40 - 10:50 | Breakout Workshop Session 1 (Brainstorming; Applied learning; and Networking)

• Interactive workshops focusing on personal leadership development, strategic visioning, and building leadership in challenging educational environments. The three keynote speakers will lead brainstorming and practice-building sessions covering different aspects of the keynote topic. Participants will explore how to adopt and adapt their leadership style with qualities that build sustainability and success. Each instructor will have a separate room in which the breakouts will be held. At the end of the Keynote the participants will simply take a few minutes to walk over to their chosen/designated breakout room.

• Each participant will select to attend ONE session with one of the facilitators. Each of these sessions is designed to leverage the unique expertise of the keynote speakers, using their strengths to prepare participants for the themes of the next keynote address. This structured approach ensures that breakout sessions gear directly in to the overarching narrative of the summit, enhancing the coherence and impact of the learning experience for all attendees.

 

Dr. Zack Micevic's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Aligning Perceptions with Reality: Strategies for Influential Leadership"

Focus: This session will explore strategies for leaders to ensure their staff's perceptions align with the school's reality. Dr. Micevic will guide participants through identifying common misalignments between leader actions and staff perceptions and brainstorm practical ways to bridge these gaps. The goal is to prepare leaders to create optics that not only accurately reflect their intentions but also inspire staff towards professional growth and self-improvement.

 

Dr. Greg Robbins's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Cultivating a Leadership Persona That Embodies Quality and Integrity"

Focus: Dr. Robbins will delve into how leaders can embody and project qualities of integrity, responsibility, and excellence that support the school's academic, operational, and relational quality. Through group brainstorming, participants will explore how these leadership qualities can influence staff engagement and development positively. The session aims to equip leaders with the character tools needed to inspire trust and confidence among their staff, setting a solid foundation for the insights to be shared in Keynote 2.

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Dr. Anne-Marie Woolsey's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Change Management as a Catalyst for Aligning Perceptions and Reality"

Focus: In this session, Dr. Woolsey will focus on using effective change management principles to ensure the quality of a school’s programs, practices, and processes aligns with both internal and external perceptions. Participants will engage in discussions on how to implement change that resonates with staff and influences their engagement positively. The session will provide strategies for leaders to navigate and lead change effectively, creating an environment where staff feel supported in their professional development and self-improvement efforts.

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11:00 - 11:30 | Keynote 2: “The Magnificent Seven”

• Speaker: Dr. Zack Micevic

• Examination of the seven critical perceptions of leaders by support and instructional staff that significantly influence their engagement and professional development.

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12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break

• Networking opportunity with a buffet lunch. Engage with peers and discuss morning sessions in a relaxed setting.

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13:00 - 14:10 | Breakout Workshop Session 2 (Brainstorming; Applied learning; and Networking)

• Focused group discussions and activities designed to explore practical applications of the principles highlighted in the second keynote. The three keynote speakers will lead brainstorming and practice-building sessions covering different aspects of the keynote topic. Participants will delve into strategies for enhancing staff perceptions and engagement.

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Dr. Zack Micevic's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Empowering Staff Through Progressive Engagement and Development"

Focus: Building on the seven critical perceptions identified in his keynote, Dr. Micevic will guide participants through methods to empower staff by enhancing engagement, professional development, and self-improvement. This session will explore innovative approaches for leaders to encourage personal and professional growth, preparing participants to implement these strategies effectively to support a culture of continuous improvement and readiness for change. A focus can also include how leaders can model eliminating personal leadership practices that are not working or, at best, anemic and finding new paths for their own improvement. 

 

Dr. Greg Robbins's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Elevating School Leadership: Fostering Academic and Operational Excellence"

Focus: Dr. Robbins will concentrate on how leaders can further support and enhance the quality of academics, operations, and relationships within their institutions. The session will focus on practical strategies for leaders to model and instill values of quality and excellence in every aspect of school operations. By examining case studies and engaging in group brainstorming, participants will learn how to assess and enhance their leadership impact on school quality, setting a solid foundation for embracing and leading effective change.

 

Dr. Anne-Marie Woolsey's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Strategic Change Management: Assessing and Adapting School Programs"

Focus: Anticipating the themes of her upcoming keynote, Dr. Woolsey will lead a session on the critical aspects of change management, particularly in evaluating the viability and quality of existing school programs. Participants will engage in exercises to identify programs that may have outlived their effectiveness, discussing strategies for making difficult decisions about which initiatives to continue and which to adapt or discontinue. This session aims to prepare leaders for making informed, strategic decisions that align with the goals of continuous improvement and quality assurance in education.

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14:20 - 14:50 | Keynote 3: “Get Off the Dead Horse”

• Speaker: Dr. Anne-Marie Woolsey

• A compelling presentation on leadership that drives effective change management in education, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when to persist and when to adapt strategies for organizational growth.

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14:50 - 15:00 | Short Break

• A brief interlude to refresh and prepare for the next set of immersive sessions.

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15:00 - 16:10 | Breakout Workshop Session 3 (Brainstorming; Applied learning; and Networking)

• Engaging workshops aimed at unpacking the ideas presented in Keynote 3 and preparing the attendees for the culminating Keynote 4, focusing on the critical aspects of leadership, engagement, and change management in decision-making. Participants will be equipped with actionable strategies and a deeper understanding of their role in making ethical, impactful decisions within their educational institutions. The three keynote speakers will lead brainstorming and practice-building sessions covering different aspects of the keynote topics. Participants will learn about practical tools and strategies for implementing change and overcoming resistance within their institutions.

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Dr. Zack Micevic's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Influencing Through Engagement: Preparing Staff for Informed Decision-Making"

Focus: This session will explore how leaders can empower staff through enhanced engagement, professional development, and self-improvement, setting the stage for informed decision-making processes that are founded on positive perceptions of leaders by staff. Dr. Micevic will lead participants in identifying strategies to cultivate an environment where staff are actively involved and feel vested in decision-making, ensuring decisions align with student outcomes and school quality improvements.

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Dr. Greg Robbins's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Character-Driven Decision Making: Aligning Leadership Qualities with School Excellence"

Focus: Dr. Robbins will explore integrating leadership qualities into decision-making that supports school excellence. This session will emphasize making decisions based on ethical considerations and the best interests of students and the school, preparing leaders for the nuanced decision-making highlighted in the forthcoming Keynote 4.

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Dr. Anne-Marie Woolsey's Breakout Session:

Topic: "Change Management as the Foundation for Effective Decision-Making"

Focus: Building on Dr. Woolsey's expertise in change management, this session will prepare participants for decision-making that may involve significant changes to strategy or direction and knowing when to persist and when to change direction. It will focus on evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of educational programs and practices and understanding the various attitudes they will face from staff. The session will cover navigating through change and making choices that further school quality and student success.

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16:20 - 16:50 | Keynote 4: “Call the Ball”

• Speaker: Dr. Greg Robbins

• A dynamic closing keynote focusing on effective decision-making that leverages leadership into positive outcomes, rounding off the day’s theme of innovation and change management.

16:50 | Closing Remarks and Q&A

• Reflect on the insights gained and the path forward. This is an open forum for participants to ask questions and discuss key takeaways with the speakers and peers.

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