WHAT DOES COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

By Members of the ODSS Executive Committee

My journey through leadership has been many things, but the one word that describes it best is fulfilling. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been mentored by some great leaders throughout the years. Through this mentorship, I have been given opportunities to grow in ways I did not think possible. When I decided to take the leap into leadership, it was about a greater purpose. I wanted to be a part of building schools where each and every kid felt safe, seen, and valued.

In keeping with our Summer Leadership Conference theme, we asked a few award-winning CCOSA members this important question. 1 2 3

Growing up, I did not see many school leaders who looked like me. That has always been at the core of why this work is so important to me. Students need to see themselves reflected in their school leaders and be exposed to leaders from various backgrounds and experiences. When this happens, students are more likely to develop empathy and understanding for others and appreciate each individual’s unique contributions to the school community. This is what makes the work we do as school leaders so rewarding—creating communities where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.

As I reflect on where I am now, I have learned many lessons along the way. There are some I learned pretty quickly and would offer as advice to anyone just starting their leadership journey. These are things that I believe are critical to a foundation in leadership because they will help guide the work you do daily.

Leadership is messy. You will live in the gray, which means that there is no playbook to tell you exactly how or what to do in all situations. In these instances, you learn to lean into the art of leadership and start thinking creatively and outside the box. Flexibility and being able to adapt is key.

Your calendar is just a suggestion! Things will not always go as planned, and the ability to accommodate change is extremely important.

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

As a beginning administrator, it is normal that you want to do your very best and prove that you can do the job. However, not everything will always be within your control. You will learn to navigate all the things that come at you, and picking and choosing what you tackle next is important.

Leading is hard. While I have found that I can do hard things, I also learned that those hard things are easier when a strong village surrounds you. Having supportive family, friends, and colleagues who are there for you is how we are able to do the work. I strive daily to lead with integrity and to make decisions that are in the kids’ best interest, even when those decisions are sometimes unpopular. Courageous leaders are BRAVE and have the ability to motivate and inspire people. They lead with confidence, determination, and resilience in the face of adversity. Courageous leaders always lead by example, admit their mistakes, and take accountability for their actions. While I’m not perfect, and there are days when I fall short of my expectations, my goal is always to strive to be a courageous leader every single day.

Stephanie Williams Executive Director of Student Learning, Norman Public Schools

Stephanie Williams is OASA’s 2023 State Assistant Superintendent/Central Office Administrator of the Year. Williams is in her 20th year as a public school educator and has been with Norman Public Schools since 2005 as a teacher and an administrator. Prior to her current role as Executive Director of Student Services, she served as NPS’s Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and has served in several other leadership roles within the district–Principal of Longfellow Middle School, Freshman Academy Principal at Norman North High School, and Assistant Principal at Whittier Middle School. Williams taught Pre-Algebra/Algebra at Irving Middle School for five years and, prior to that, taught in Oklahoma City. In 2018, she was selected as Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by CCOSA. She also serves on the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education’s Education Professions Division Advisory Council at the University of Oklahoma.

WHAT DOES COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

Crystal Szymanski is the OASSP/OMLEA Middle Level Principal of the Year. Szymanski has focused on increasing teacher collaboration around student learning in English and mathematics and supports innovation by leading a learning environment where teachers feel safe to use technology, analyze student assessment data, and explore new teaching methods. As a result, Stillwater Junior High School students on average showed more than 1.5 academic years of growth in state assessments this past school year.

As an assistant principal focusing on academic and behavioral intervention, many of my interactions with people can be uncomfortable. I believe a courageous leader is not immune to fear but is able to overcome it. They acknowledge their fears and take action despite them. They are willing to step outside their comfort zone and embrace unfamiliar situations. This type of leader faces tough choices head on, even when they are unpopular or come with inherent risks.

Timothy Ray Assistant Principal, Charles Page High School, Sand Springs Public Schools

Timothy Ray is the OASSP Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year. As assistant principal for more than a decade at Charles Page High School, Ray has been an integral part of shaping school culture, supporting student learning, and transforming student behavior outcomes. For the past three years, Ray has implemented a new program, We Always Return with Purpose (WARP), as an alternative to long-term suspensions. Using the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, students return from a shortened suspension to attend two days of training, followed by monthly meetings with Ray. As a result, the school has reduced long-term suspensions from an average of 24 per year to five on average. Only 5% of students in the WARP program have had subsequent behaviors requiring long-term suspension.

Administrators are leaders in their community who make decisions focused on serving students and empowering them to become self-reliant and outwardly focused contributors to society through leading by example, which in turn will create purpose and fulfillment in them as they become young adults. In addition to focusing on students, you must be able to lead intentionally, with moral and ethical values; school leaders must be honest (through action and communication), humble (admit when you are wrong and know that there are times when you need help), and honorable (respect your position, students, staff, and community).

ODSS 2023 Director of the Year Teresa Golden has been Kingston Public Schools’ Director of Special Services since 2016. She has served as the President of the Oklahoma Directors of Special Services, mentors new directors through CCOSA and ODSS’ First-Year Special Education Directors Project, and is one of the founding hub team members for TeleSPED, CCOSA’s partnership with the OSU Center for Health Sciences Project ECHO and OSU-Tulsa. A few of her accomplishments at Kingston Public Schools include implementing and sustaining an emotional support therapy dog program, dyslexia intervention classrooms, and an early childhood behavioral classroom, in which students with significant challenging behaviors receive adaptive skills supports to facilitate their independent entry into the general education setting.

Courageous leaders are willing to put themselves out there and take risks in order to achieve goals and inspire others. They understand that leadership often requires stepping out of comfort zones and facing challenges head-on. Courageous leaders are willing to take decisive action and make difficult choices while remaining committed to their vision for success. Leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions, accepting both the successes and failures that come from them. They are willing to own up to mistakes and learn from them. Courageous leaders understand that progress often involves taking risks, and they are willing to step into the unknown, make tough choices, and embrace uncertainty in pursuit of their goals. Bold leadership is not afraid to voice opinions and advocate for what they believe in, which creates a culture of open dialogue. A collaborative school environment is fostered through this, which allows for diverse perspectives to be valued. Courageous leaders understand the need for their team to feel safe to contribute to discussions of school success and therefore actively listen with open, empathetic ears.

Real leadership isn’t about winning a popularity contest. It’s about doing important work on behalf of others. Courageous leadership is about being trusted and respected for the defensibility of the decisions you make. It’s about courageous action to defend core principles, even when it costs something significant.

A courageous leader must display openness and humility. A courageous leader must focus on making the environment safer for others.

A courageous leader must be willing to change the conditions in the organization to make it safer for people to be honest, to try new things or take other prudent risks, and reward, rather than punish, those who try new things, even when they don’t go well.

Ron Sunderland Principal, Woodward High School

Danielle Patterson is the OAESP 2023 Principal of the Year. Patterson has been described by her colleagues as a dedicated team player who has created a studentcentered school culture that feels like family. Under her leadership, Ethel Reed Elementary has developed a “Walk to Read” program ensuring all students regardless of backgrounds are successful. In addition, she has created clubs for students including the Counting Club, Color Club, Shape Club, Addition Club, Subtraction Club, Multiplication Club, and Division Club. Students demonstrate mastery to become part of the club.

Ron Sunderland was named the OASSP 2023 High School Principal of the Year in May. As principal of Woodward High School since 2019, he has encouraged a school culture marked by student well-being and safety, innovative learning programs, and growth in student achievement. In addition to boasting a 96% average attendance rate, Woodward High School revamped its master schedules to embed time for ACT Prep for students. In the 2022-23 school year, through a GEARUP grant, all junior students at Woodward High School received free ACT tests in the fall semester, followed by ACT tests in the spring semester provided through funding from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. As a result, 62% of juniors improved overall composite ACT scores during that time. Under his leadership, Woodward High School has also expanded opportunities for students to embrace college and career pathways. In 2017, Woodward Public Schools launched Technical Applications Program (TAP) with introductory STEM courses. This partnership with High Plains Technology Center helps middle and high school aged students gain a working knowledge of the full-time and adult programs available in careers and at the technology center by introducing coursework in seventh grade and continuing into high school. ■