Leadership Academy

Leadership Academy Participants Share Their Perspectives and Plans for 2023 Academy

Plans for the 2023 Leadership Academy have begun. Active educators who have been members for ten years or less and have not held an office beyond the chapter level may be eligible to participate in the second Leadership Academy. More information will be available at the 2022 regional conferences.

The first Leadership Academy, according to academy leaders, far exceeded expectations due to the excitement, enthusiasm, and energy of all the participants. Leadership Academy participants continue to meet monthly with their mentors. Their creative juices flow as they plan their learning session presentations for the 2022 regional conferences. One team is working on a Big Sister/Little Sister mentoring presentation, bringing mentorship to a personal level by having chapter members buddy and support new members. Another group strives to create an interactive multimedia presentation called A∆K University. The goal is to create an onboarding experience for new and prospective members.

Annie Kozma, MD Beta, said she is “so excited to be participating in the inaugural class of the A∆K Leadership Academy.” She feels that it has been a great experience virtually meeting other participants from all over the country and working with sisters at the International level to gain a better understanding of the organization. She is “grateful for this opportunity!”

Katy Matthews, TX Gamma Nu, joined the Leadership Academy to learn and grow more in her A∆K path as well as to cultivate her skills as a leader in her school. She feels that “the academy is creating a new generation of leaders to keep leading Alpha Delta Kappa forward.”

Carol Harper, NC Mu, adds that she was so excited to be accepted into the Academy and knows that she can become a better leader. She truly enjoys participating in the Leadership Academy and feels that it has taught her a lot about herself and what her leadership style is.

Michelle Roosma, AZ Psi, applied to be part of the Leadership Academy because she was a newly elected chapter president and was new to A∆K. She hoped to gain more knowledge about herself to ensure that she could have a productive biennium for her chapter. She thinks that “the Leadership Academy will help all of us feel more capable of holding various positions within the A∆K organization, whether at a local, state, or International level.” She plans on using what she’s learned to help encourage sisters to hold office as well as recruiting future A∆K members who are a good fit for her chapter.

Maddie Powell, TX Zeta Zeta, feels that her few years in A∆K have been great, but as a new chapter member, she knew there was so much more they could do. In this short time, the Academy has helped her chapter grow together and create a focus. She also feels that “the Leadership Academy is benefiting A∆K as a whole by connecting newer members to others around the country! I’ve now got A∆K sisters in all parts of the country to go to for ideas, advice and overall friendship. I’ve already gained so much. I have a mentor and new friend, Kathy Beatty, VA Gamma Epsilon, whom I can call or text any time. She has helped me and our chapter by just talking through things they’ve done and ideas we could use. Because of what we have done in the Leadership Academy, our whole chapter is invigorated for the year and ready to go forth and serve.”

Angelina Barela, CO Gamma, shared, “Before the announcement of the Leadership Academy, I was feeling I needed to do more as a leader. When the announcement of the Leadership Academy came, it was a type of calling for me. It was the answer I needed and was looking for. My skills developed over the classes. I gained more insight into who I was as a leader and how to grow to become a better leader. I hope one day I will serve as president for my chapter, then serve state, regional, and one day, International.” Angelina feels A∆K is a wonderful organization with wonderful sisters, but the population is heavy on the retired side. The Leadership Academy is giving active teachers the knowledge and confidence to grow and become leaders in our organization. It is opening doors to the future.

Article submitted by the members of the first Leadership Academy Committee: Bev Card, International Executive Board Chairman; Su Wade, Chairman of the Leadership Academy Board; and Charlene Lauria, Executive Board Vice Chairman.