OAESP

Glen Abshere, OAESP Executive Director

OAESP membership had tremendous growth last school year, ending the year with 849 members. It is time to renew your membership for the 2023-24 school year. Join online today at www.ccosa.org/membership. We have a new membership database, and you will need to create an account. If you have any issues logging in to the new system, let us know. We can help. Thank you for being a member of CCOSA and OAESP! Please encourage others to join.

A few years ago, NAESP instituted a new rule that required the State Principal of the Year to be a member of NAESP for three consecutive years prior to their nomination for the National Distinguished Principal program. This rule made it difficult to find candidates who met that requirement, and I was very vocal in my opposition. The NAESP Board of Directors voted this summer to alter that rule, which now states that candidates must be a member of NAESP for one year prior to their nomination. We thank Dr. Earl Franks, NAESP Executive Director, and the NAESP Board of Directors for making this change. Don’t forget to also join NAESP when you renew your OAESP membership. If you are already a member of OAESP and would like to add NAESP membership, please reach out to me.

The OAESP Leadership Conference, formally known as the OAESP MidWinter Conference, will be held February 28-29, 2024, at the Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center. Registration will open later this fall. The conference is a day and a half of learning, and the keynote speaker will be Jessica Cabeen, author of “Lead with Grace,” “Unconventional Leadership: Bridging the Connected World With Meaningful Relationships,” and “Hacking Early Learning: 10 Building Blocks to Success in PreK-3.” An announcement will be coming soon with additional details. The OAESP presidential candidates for this year are Jenny Affentranger, Bethel Public Schools, and Amy Estes, Hollis Public Schools. Both candidates will speak at the OAESP Leadership Conference on February 28-29. The OAESP presidential election will take place after the conference.

The New Principals Academy promotes an interactive discussion of topics essential for participants to develop understanding and knowledge of the leadership role at the school level. The academy provides guidance to steer an early career principal or assistant principal through the initial period of adjustment as a beginning administrator and to set the foundation for a long and rewarding career as a school administrator. Sessions include four trainings and one advocacy experience. Due to high demand, we are now offering two cohorts. One will meet at the CCOSA office in Oklahoma City, and the other in Tulsa at Tulsa Technology Center–Lemley Memorial Campus. See dates at right.

Spots are filling up fast! Register today to reserve your spot at https://www.ccosa.org/professional-learning/leadershipdevelopment/new-principals-academy.

OKC Cohort

September 21

October 24

November 14

December 12

Tulsa Cohort

September 28

October 25

November 16

December 13

TeleLEAD is Oklahoma’s principal leadership network for ongoing virtual conversations hosted by the OSU Center for Health Sciences ECHO Program, OSU-Tulsa, and CCOSA. Now entering its fourth year, TeleLEAD kicked off September 6, and future meetings will be the first and third Wednesday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. Hub Team members include Traci Newell, Elgin Lower Elementary Principal; Kas Nelson, Vici Elementary Principal; Eric Fox, Jenks High School Assistant Principal; Blaine Wise, Glenpool Middle School Principal; Glen Abshere, OAESP Executive Director; and Chris LeGrande, OASSP/OMLEA Executive Director. We are in need of case studies to present. If you have a case for consideration, please get in touch with me. FERPA and privacy are guaranteed. These virtual Zoom discussions provide great insight into complex issues facing public schools.

OAESP produces The OAESP Principal Podcast, with new episodes released every two weeks on Tuesday mornings and available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Search for “The OAESP Principal Podcast” and subscribe to receive alerts when new episodes are released. The podcast is designed to elevate the voices of Oklahoma principals and assistant principals, and new interviews are being scheduled for future episodes. If you would like to be on the podcast, email Glen Abshere at abshere@ ccosa.org.

Our Principal Coaching and Mentoring: Supporting and Sustaining School Leaders training is designed for individuals who supervise principals or mentor other principals. This training will give participants tools to use when mentoring other leaders to provide thoughtful guidance. This cohort meets three times in the fall semester: September 26, November 1, and December 5. Sign up today at https:// www.ccosa.org/oaesp/professionallearning/coaching-and-mentoring

The second cohort of the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Institute (OPLI) kicked off in July. This yearlong, seven-day training designed for principals and assistant principals beyond their first year of service takes a deep dive into essential skills of effective school leaders. July 18-20, elementary and secondary principals from across Oklahoma met at the UCO Boathouse in Oklahoma City for three days of professional learning. Participants were led through strategies on identifying strengths among staff members, developing vision and mission statements, influencing positive school culture, and strengthening professional learning communities. OPLI also included whitewater rafting and dragon boat rowing at the Riversport Adventure Park. We are excited to continue professional learning with this OPLI cohort in November 2023 and April 2024. The application period for this institute is closed for this year; applications for the next cohort will open in April 2024. ■