Chris LeGrande

Getting to Know CCOSA’s Newest Executive Director

Chris LeGrande joined CCOSA as executive director of OASSP and OMLEA on July 1, 2023, after a long career at Guthrie Public Schools. You can reach him via email at LeGrande@ccosa.org.

Q: Where did you go to school?

A: I am a 1986 graduate of Guthrie High School and a 1991 graduate of Oklahoma State University, where I received a B.S. in Secondary Science Education. In 2005, I was awarded an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Southern Nazarene University.

Q: What made you become an educator?

A: From a young age, I very much enjoyed school. I performed well academically and had a junior high science teacher whose differentiated instruction challenged me intellectually and sparked an interest in science education.

Q: What educator made the greatest impact on your life, and how?

A: My junior high science teacher, Peggy Momsen, made learning fun and took a vested interest in my success as a student-athlete. Carolyn Hendricks, my 10th and 11th grade English teacher, fostered a love of writing and continually stressed the importance of presenting myself in a professional manner, both of which have been fundamental in my educational career.

Q: What have you been reading recently? What is your favorite book? Your favorite YA book?

A: I am currently reading “The Teacher’s Principal” by Jen Schwanke. My favorite book is “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. The Bible is my favorite young adult book.

Q: What are you responsible for at CCOSA?

A: I will be responsible for mentoring, coaching, and supporting middle-level and secondary principals. In addition, I will be assisting the entire CCOSA team as needed to ensure the success of our organization.

Q: What does courageous leadership mean to you?

A: For me, courageous leadership entails thinking outside the box and experimenting with creative and innovative strategies in which to improve your school or district. It involves possessing a “not afraid to fail” mentality. In short, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Q: What advice would you give a new high school principal? A new middle school or junior high principal?

A: My advice to a new high school principal would be to learn to trust your administrative team and delegate responsibilities. You cannot successfully perform all your assigned duties on your own accord. My advice for a new middle school/junior high principal would be to never forget what it was like to be an adolescent. We are all kids at heart, and it is perfectly permissible to laugh at one’s self.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

A: I relish the opportunity to travel our great state and meet with fellow middle-level and secondary principals to share and impart wisdom learned in over thirty years in the profession. Furthermore, I look forward to cultivating meaningful relationships and providing genuine support through both good times and bad. I want to be a champion for public education. ■

The CCOSA Summer Leadership Conference was a huge success! The effort to host such a large event should not be taken for granted. Our CCOSA staff worked for months securing the conference center and hotel, scheduling meeting spaces, preparing promotional materials, developing the conference app, securing sponsors and vendors, and answering thousands of questions from administrators and sponsors. Our directors spent months getting input on presentations, planning presentations, securing speakers, and creating schedules to maximize the professional development opportunities for the attendees.

The conference wouldn’t be possible without the support of you, our OASA membership. OASA leaders create a culture within their school of continuous learning and encourage the rest of their leadership team to attend conferences like ours. It is your leadership that makes CCOSA the most powerful voice for public education in the state! This last year we achieved our goal of 3,000 CCOSA members. We are thrilled to reach that milestone, but we want to continue to grow membership. There is strength in numbers! With over 90% of our school superintendents as members, OASA participation is at an all-time high. So, during this summer, let’s celebrate the end of another challenging year but also be proud of the leadership of our OASA membership.