OASSP / OMLEA

Chris LeGrande, OASSP/OMLEA Executive Director

Membership is the key element for growing, advancing, enhancing, and unifying our associations. I am proud to report that membership has continued to increase over the past several years, with a record 924 OASSP members reported at the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year. There is strength in numbers, so let us further our collective influence by encouraging colleagues, associates, and fellow administrator friends to join CCOSA today. If you have yet to renew your 2023-24 membership or know someone who would like to join, email us at membership@ccosa.org and we will send you a username, temporary password, and login instructions.

On Friday, September 15, 2023, the OASSP Executive Committee met at the CCOSA office in Oklahoma City. The committee comprised of elected officers and regional representatives set legislative goals, planned for the February OASSP/OMLEA combined conference, approved appointments, and exchanged innovative leadership initiatives. For a complete list of OASSP Executive Committee members and their contact information, visit www. ccosa.org/oassp/board

Back for a fourth consecutive year is TeleLEAD, Oklahoma’s premier virtual principal’s leadership network. Hosted jointly by the OSU Center for Health Sciences ECHO Program, OSU-Tulsa, and CCOSA, this learning series began on September 6, and meetings are scheduled for the first and third Wednesday mornings of each month from 10-11 a.m. Our Hub team consists of Traci Newell, Principal of Elgin Lower Elementary School; Dr. Kas Nelson, Vici

Oassp Update

Mark your calendar for February 13-14, 2024, for the annual OASSP/OMLEA Mid-Winter Conference . This year’s conference, themed “Leading With a Servant’s Heart,” will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, Edmond, Oklahoma, and will feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed specifically for middle-level and secondary educators and school leaders. Begin planning to bring teacher teams and administrators to this amazing learning opportunity. Details concerning speakers and registration will be coming soon!

Elementary Principal; Blaine Wise, Principal of Glenpool Middle School; Eric Fox, Assistant Principal, Jenks High School; Glen Abshere, OAESP Executive Director; and Chris LeGrande, OASSP/OMLEA Executive Director. We are continually searching for case studies with issues affecting your local schools. If you have an idea for a case study, please reach out to me at legrande@ccosa.org. FERPA guidelines and confidentiality standards will be upheld.

If you are a first-year or early career administrator and are looking to enhance your leadership capacity, consider taking part in our New Principals Academy. Designed to promote an interactive discussion on topics essential for developing an understanding and knowledge of the principalship at the school level, this academy meets monthly throughout the fall semester and once in the spring for an advocacy experience. The academy is open to principals and assistant principals and is structured to offer guidance to steer early administrators through the initial adjustment period and set the foundation for a long and rewarding career. There are two offerings: in OKC (CCOSA Office) on September 21, October 24, November 14, and December 12; and the newly created Tulsa cohort

(Tulsa Technology Center–Lemley Memorial Campus) on September 28, October 25, November 16, and December 13. Both academies will offer an advocacy experience in conjunction with Principals Day at the Capitol on March 6, 2024. Spots are filling fast, so register today to reserve your seat at www. ccosa.org/professional-learning/ leadership-development/newprincipals-academy

If you are a veteran education leader serving as a principal, director, or central office administrator, you will benefit from the research and practices necessary to mentor, support, and coach principals. With guidance from NAESP Certified Coaches, you can join our Principal Coaching & Mentoring: Supporting and Sustaining School Leaders cohort to learn the latest strategies, tools, and resources needed to grow the capacity of other leaders, retain strong leaders, increase the leadership pipeline, and reduce turnover. This cohort meets three times in the fall semester: September 26, November 1, and December 5. For more information, visit ccosa.org/ professional-learning/leadershipdevelopment/principal-coachingand-mentoring. ■

Omlea Update

On Friday, September 8, 2023, OMLEA conducted its first executive committee meeting of the school year to discuss membership outreach, conference planning, 2023-24 legislative goals, and professional learning opportunities. You can access our OMLEA Executive Committee members and their contact information at www.ccosa.org/omlea/board.

In its second year of existence, the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Institute takes a deep dive into those essential skills an effective school leader possesses. Designed for experienced administrators, this yearly cohort completes a series of training modules including creating a personal leadership vision, analyzing student data, navigating crucial conversations, managing human resources, and cultivating advocacy skills. On July 18-20, 2023, the 20 new members of the Class of 2024 convened at Riversport OKC for dragon boat rowing and whitewater rafting. These team-building activities set the stage for what promises to be a fun-filled, adventure-packed year of professional growth and learning. Although registration has closed for this year’s institute, look for application information for the next OPLI cohort in April 2024. ■

OMLEA’s membership is composed of OAESP, OASSP, or other CCOSA members who serve middle-level students. You can join OMLEA as a free option when you become a member of one of CCOSA’s umbrella associations. Presently, we have 350 OMLEA members. If you have yet to renew your membership for 2023-24, email us at membership@ccosa.org. Upon receipt, you will receive a username, temporary password, and login instructions. Encourage your colleagues and principal friends to join CCOSA today! There is universal power in numbers.