From Instructional to Relational: Transforming School Leadership

Engaging Leadership

Summary:

Dr. Jim hosts Dr. Jill Oelslager, superintendent of the Burlington Area School District, discussing the creation of an ownership culture to combat teacher turnover. Jill shares her journey from a high school science teacher to superintendent, emphasizing the shift from instructional to relational leadership. They explore strategies like decentralizing decision-making, fostering peer-to-peer development, and instilling a culture of autonomy. Jill's focus on compassionate leadership and collaborative approaches has enabled the district to maintain a strong retention record despite financial challenges. Join for valuable insights on building high-performing teams through empowered leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Relational Leadership: Prioritizing relational skills over technical expertise in leaders significantly improves staff retention and morale.
• Decentralize Decision-Making: Empowering team members at all levels fosters a culture of autonomy and ownership, enhancing efficiency and consistency.
• Cultivate Vulnerability and Trust: Leaders must be open, approachable, and willing to trust their teams, creating an environment conducive to growth and collaboration.
• Peer-to-Peer Development: Encourage collaboration among peers to build robust support systems and shared responsibility.
• Flexibility and Adaptation: Being adaptable and willing to listen to and incorporate feedback ensures the organization can meet diverse challenges effectively.

Chapters:

00:00

Decentralized Leadership for Retaining Teachers

02:36

Travel Preferences and Social Dynamics in Europe

03:59

Innovative Approaches to Student Programming in Burlington School District

08:10

Empowering Leadership and Distributed Decision-Making in Education

14:25

Empowering Principals Through Collaboration and Consistency

18:20

Empowering Teams Through Trust and Strategic Leadership

19:47

Distributing Leadership and Fostering Relationships in Lean School Districts

25:00

Cultivating Relational Leadership in Educational Organizations

30:07

Key Leadership Principles for Empowering Teams and Creating Leaders

33:53

Building Leaders Through Peer Development and Feedback

Connect with Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Dr. Jill Oelslager: https://www.basd.k12.wi.us/, https://www.basd.k12.wi.us/faculty/joelslager/?from_faculty_listing=1&l=&u=

Music Credit: Shake it Up - Fesliyanstudios.com - David Renda

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Mentioned in this episode:

Engaging Leadership Intro

Engaging Leadership Outro