Episode 274

full
Published on:

5th Sep 2024

Transforming Education: Schools of Choice and Leadership Development

Summary:

In this episode of 'The Engaging Leadership Show,' host CheeTung (CT), co-founder of EngageRocket, talks to Dr. Bret Champion, Superintendent of Medford School District in Southern Oregon. Bret discusses the district's unique characteristics, its commitment to student-centered learning, and the initiatives around school choice, including the launch of innovative programs like Medford Online Academy and the Innovation Academy.

The conversation delves into the challenges and strategies for effective leadership, reflecting on Bret’s leadership journey, the importance of thoughtfully challenging the status quo, and fostering a coherent vision for school management. Bret emphasizes the critical role of principals in driving instructional quality and adapting to changes, as well as the value of stakeholder-centered coaching. Throughout, the episode underscores the need for a balanced approach to immediate tasks and long-term goals in educational leadership.

Download a comprehensive list of recommended leadership resources compiled by Dr. Champion here: https://k12.engagerocket.net/bretchampion

Key Takeaways:

  1. Shared Vision: Emphasize inclusivity and comprehensive education where "All are learning and learning is for all."
  2. Schools of Choice: Provide diverse educational options to meet community needs and foster personalized learning experiences.
  3. Leadership Development: Focus on growing leadership capacity from within, with robust training in instructional knowledge, change management, and cultural competency.
  4. Reflection and Coaching: Implement regular feedback sessions with stakeholders to foster continuous improvement and accountability.
  5. Instructional Coherency: Align educational goals through a coherency map and ensure that all schools work towards common objectives.


Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Engaging Leadership Show

00:25 Meet Bret Champion: Superintendent of Medford School District

00:42 Medford School District: Unique Features and Vision

02:43 Innovative Schools of Choice in Medford

07:13 Challenges and Drivers of Educational Change

13:53 Leadership and Personal Growth

26:12 Strengthening Principal Leadership

31:54 Final Reflections and Advice for Aspiring Leaders

34:11 Conclusion and Resources


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

Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Bret Champion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-champion-872264245/

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



Join us at Engaging Leadership to learn and connect with a community of leaders in education just like you. This is the space where top people leaders share actionable insights and practical playbooks in fostering a high-performing workplace of the future.

Sign up as a member today for community updates on the latest leadership resources and exclusive event invites: k12.engagerocket.net

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Engaging Leadership

About the Podcast

Engaging Leadership
Building High-Performance K-12 Districts
What's the secret sauce to building a high-performing school district?
Is it strong leadership? Is it excellent educators? Is it a committed community?

It's all of the above.

K-12 public schools are the hubs of communities all over the country. The best districts have excellent leadership that serves their teams and their communities.

Each week we share the stories of K-12 leaders who are transforming their schools, their students, and their communities.

Tune in and listen to their journeys.

About your hosts

CheeTung Leong

Profile picture for CheeTung Leong
I'm committed to helping people live their best lives through work.

I'm one of the co-founders of EngageRocket, an HRTech SaaS startup and we are focused on helping organizations build empowered managers, engaged employees, and elite teams.

I'm a big nerd when it comes to economics and psychology and regularly use data and tech to help folks live their best lives.

I've been recognized by Prestige Magazine as one of the top 40 under 40 business leaders and have been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Business Insider, and Tech in Asia.

Jim Kanichirayil

Profile picture for Jim Kanichirayil
Your friendly neighborhood talent strategy nerd is the producer and co-host for The HR Impact Show. He's spent his career in sales and has been typically in startup b2b HRTech and TA-Tech organizations.

He's built high-performance sales teams throughout his career and is passionate about all things employee life cycle and especially employee retention and turnover.