2023 Women in Leadership Conference Program

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Hosted by the Vermont Superintendents and Vermont Principals’ Associations

THANK YOU TO THE VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE

THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PILOT PROGRAM FOR THEIR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP.

KEYNOTE PRESENTERS

Anne Marie Anderson is a three-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster, keynote speaker and emcee. Having spent more than three decades in sports television, Anne Marie has covered six Olympic games, heavyweight title fights, golf’s majors, NBA/MLB playoffs, and the Superbowl among countless other marquee events. Anderson is one of the most experienced female play-byplay announcers in the country working for a variety of networks including ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX and TBS. Anne Marie is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and emcee helping both corporate and educational audiences discover how to build highly successful teams. Utilizing the methods observed through behind closed doors coverage of many of sport’s most successful coaches and executives, Anderson delivers concrete tools and entertaining examples of what has worked – and has NOT worked – on some of the biggest stages in sports.

Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications/Public Relations; Master of Arts Degree in Special Education and an EdD in Education, Leadership, Administration, and Policy. She has served over 30 years in education as a special education teacher, curriculum specialist, assistant principal, principal, district office administrator, and executive director of school and community engagement in LAUSD, Culver City, Compton and Inglewood school districts Dr J’s ability to create sustainable community partnerships eventually made its way to an NBC reality series called, School Pride. These efforts led to the foundation for her innovative approach, community empowerment message, and her book, The Why Not Challenge: Say Yes to Success with School Community Partnerships. Currently, Dr. J proudly serves large urban districts as the National Leadership Executive Manager at Apple.

WORKSHOPS

Repeated at 10:45 am and 1:15 pm.

Ballroom: Managing Media Mindfully

Led by Anne Marie Anderson: The media can be a valuable tool in getting your messaging into the community IF you know how to navigate the process. Learn what goes on inside a news outlet as they approach you for a story to avoid common traps. A thoughtful approach with a clear objective will help you define your intention. Veteran journalist Anne Marie Anderson has conducted hundreds of interviews and teaches how to remove the stress and magnify the impact of any interaction with the press. This 60 minute workshop will help you calm your nerves, feel confident, and learn how to express the relevant information you want share without being taken off track

Learn the four questions to ask before scheduling the interview. Discover three keys to giving a powerful sound bite for television. Recognize a negative question and pivot it into a proactive answer.

Northstar 2: Tips & Tricks for Women in Employment Law Negotiations

Led by attorney Caroline Earle: Caroline will provide tips & tricks based on the lessons that she has learned over 29 years of representing women leaders in for-profit and non-profit sectors in negotiating employment, non-compete, and separation agreements. Caroline will discuss how gender identity can influence these negotiations, along with general strategies for negotiating your next employment contract.

Gateway 1&2: Leadership Coaching for Women

Led by Tracy Wrend and Jeanné Collins Deweese: Coaching can be an invaluable resource for a leader’s growth and development According to the Institute of Coaching, McLean Affiliate of Harvard Medical School (2009),

70% of individuals who received coaching benefited from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills;

80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence; and

86% of companies report that they recouped their investment in coaching, and more.

Women leaders often experience unique challenges in the workplace. In this session we will explore the difference between coaching and mentoring, why to consider a coach, what to expect in a coaching engagement, and how to find a coach that is the right fit for you, wherever you are on your leadership journey.

Repeated at 10:45 am and 1:15 pm.

Northstar 1: Women in Leadership: Intersectionality

Led by Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity: The facilitators will provide a foundation in understanding intersectionality and the important role that intersectional identities do/can have in leadership. Participants will join us in an interactive activity that will highlight the experiences of people who hold multiple marginalized or privileged identities in their everyday lives. Attendees will also understand intersectionality more deeply through exploration of the following concepts: tokenism, the “Lonely Only,” the Peter Principle, the glass cliff theory, severe and pervasive harassment in schools, and the science of “emotional” leaders. This session requires active participation and will bring about deep reflections, sharing of insights, and plenty of laughter and engagement!

Open: Nourish, Connect, Reflect

We invite you to step away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and immerse yourself in a reflection experience to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit You often prioritize everyone else, so we want to offer you the opportunity to prioritize your wellbeing. This can be done by fostering collaborative connections with colleagues here today, finding quiet time for introspection or just by taking a walk around the pond to process new learning from today.

Make Collaborative Connections:

Building

meaningful relationships

with

colleagues is essential for professional growth You can use this workshop time to forge new connections, exchange ideas, and develop lasting partnerships with fellow conference participants. Conferences often bombard you with a wealth of new information and ideas. This workshop time can provide a dedicated space for you to process, digest, and reflect on what you’ve learned. Taking time to journal is a good way to distill your insights and take actionable steps for future application.

Nature Exploration: Nature has a remarkable ability to restore balance and clarity Take a break from the conference for this block of time to enjoy a brief outdoor excursion in the surrounding natural beauty of Killington.

SPEAKER BIOS

Xusana Davis serves as the State of Vermont’s Executive Director of Racial Equity, appointed in June 2019 by Governor Phil Scott She works with state agencies to identify and address systemic racial disparities, ensure that equity goals and objectives are incorporated throughout the State's operations, and to provide strategic and policy guidance on equity issues. Prior to joining the State of Vermont, Xusana served as Director of Health & Housing Strategic Initiatives at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and as the Director of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus of the New York City Council. She holds a Juris Doctor with a concentration in International Human Rights Law from New York Law School, where she also directed a civil liberties education program for low-income youth and youth of color She studied Anthropology and Philosophy at Fordham University, earning the Rev J Franklin Ewing, S J Award for writing on the relationship between global human rights violations and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS. Xusana is first-generation in the U.S., and proud to be a Spanish-fluent Latina who approaches her work from a multicultural perspective.

Jeanné Collins Deweese is an executive coach, trainer and consultant, and founder of Kid Matters, LLC. Jeanné believes a leader’s growth and development opportunities when confidentially working with a leadership coach can yield extraordinary benefits As a coach, she helps clients approach goals, challenges and reflections in new ways, with the focus on growth and development of the leader within. Jeanné is also currently the Executive Director of the Horace Mann League, a national honorary association for school superintendents, professors of ed leadership and researchers which focuses on public education as the cornerstone of our democracy. Jeanné’s experience includes seventeen years as a VT superintendent (Burlington and Rutland NE), special education director (Burlington and Washington West) and special educator Jeanné has worked in four states over her 41 year career in public education Jeanné was recognized by the Vermont Superintendents Association in 2011 with the Vermont Superintendent of the Year Frederick H. Tuttle Service Award. Other awards received include the Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year Award in 2004, UVM Distinguished Educator 2009, James Stackpole Award 2021, and the Dr. Lincoln Lynch Career Achievement Award in 2022. Jeanne’s education includes a BA from Purdue University, MA from the University of Northern CO and CAGS from St Michael’s College She has completed the Waddington School Leadership Initiative, a partnership between the Vermont Principal’s Association and the Center for Creative Leadership Jeanné is currently coaching and mentoring three superintendents and four school administrators, and is working on her coaching certification through the Center for Creative Leadership.

Attorney Caroline Earle has practiced employment law for almost 30 years in Vermont. She is the former Commissioner of Human Resources under Governor Douglas, former Chief of the Civil Litigation Division of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office under Attorney General Sorrell, and most recently served as the District Governor of Rotary District 7850. Drawing on her experience in both private and public practice, Caroline started her own law firm in 2011, which is now Earle & Freeman, PLC. Caroline loves representing women leaders –CEOs, Presidents, CFOs and others – in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Caroline has negotiated countless employment, non-compete, and separation agreements for women leaders, and has litigated employment law claims in state, federal, and administrative forums She is delighted to be participating in this gathering of women in leaders

SPEAKER BIOS

Shalini Suryanarayana serves as the State of Vermont’s Racial Equity Education & Outreach Associate, appointed to the position in January 2022 Shalini interacts with residents, visitors, press, and other sectors of government. She builds training curricula, liaises with communities around the state, and helps state and local leaders apply an equity lens to their work through education and close communication. Shalini earned a Master’s degree in Business with a minor in Organizational Development/Organizational Behavior and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University She has over 20 years of direct experience leading successful diversity initiatives in Michigan, all of which promoted racial equity in addition to supporting other underrepresented populations. In 2021 she was appointed to two Governor’s Commissions in Vermont - the Governor's Workforce Equity and Diversity Council (GWEDC) where she serves as a Co-Chair and the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD). During the last three years as a member of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation, she served on the ANR Diversity & Equity Committee and the DEC Environmental Justice Committee These efforts afforded her the opportunity to learn even more about social justice issues in Vermont and have further solidified her interest in remediating systemic racial disparities. Her work to promote and support underrepresented populations demonstrates her commitment to serving and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities. In addition to her relevant professional experiences, as an immigrant and woman of color, she also brings first-hand experiences, insights, and perspectives from multiple marginalized groups She lives on Abenaki land in Middlesex

Tracy Wrend is an executive coach, consultant, and founder of Little Bird Education and Leadership Consulting, LLC. As a lifelong learner herself, she is passionate about supporting her clients’ learning and growth and believes strongly in the unique and powerful potential of each individual. Tracy is an experienced leader who understands the value and importance of a confidential, professional partner for clients as they embrace new challenges and develop their strengths in the context of their organization in ways that make sense for them. In addition to coaching and consulting, Tracy is the Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association’s Aspiring Superintendents Academy (formerly the VSA Leadership Academy). Tracy has also served as Superintendent of Schools for Lamoille South for fourteen years and as a school administrator and educator, including Director of Student Services, Principal, Special Educator, Consulting Teacher, and Education Support System Coordinator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in her 31 years of service in public education Tracy was recognized by the Vermont Superintendents Association in May 2016 with the Vermont Superintendent of the Year Frederick H. Tuttle Service Award. Tracy received degrees from the University of Vermont and Johnson State College. She is a graduate of the Snelling Center’s Vermont School Leadership Project and completed the Waddington School Leadership Initiative, a partnership between the Vermont Principal’s Association and the Center for Creative Leadership Tracy also holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from William James College and is a member of the Institute of Coaching, McLean Affiliate of Harvard Medical School