Anthony Smith, superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia, adopted the mantra “Building a better tomorrow, today.” By partnering with Learning Forward to provide transformative professional learning aimed at empowering district and school leaders to learn and lead the way to success for all students, the district is taking intentional actions to make that happen.

Denise Stevens, director of leadership development, said, “Our goal is to empower and equip all CCPS leaders with the essential knowledge, skills, and expertise to improve student outcomes throughout our school district and our community.”

Two key academies, facilitated by Learning Forward staff and consultants, support that effort. One features a collaborative inquiry into how Standards for Professional Learning outline the foundational elements of effective professional learning systems and how they can be used to help leaders develop a more systemic approach to designing and supporting professional learning.

The second academy is aimed at supporting novice school administrators. Because 48% of school leaders have less than three years of experience in their leadership role, district leaders recognized the need for substantial support from the district itself. However, due to the diverse levels of experience among leaders and the differing needs of schools, they realized the need for a tailored and individualized support plan. To provide this, the district recruited a team of highly experienced, recently retired principals, as well as current assistant principals, and partnered with Learning Forward to develop coaching and mentoring skills.

“We believe that informed leaders contribute to more effectively functioning departments and schools, which results in greater effectiveness and improved student outcomes,” said Delphia Young, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning & strategic improvement.