Some professional learning opportunities are unique – among them ACSA’s Summer Residential Programs for School Leaders at UCLA. There, site leaders can access powerful learning and synergy they create themselves with an intensive, multiple day and evening experience on campus as a learning community.

The summer programs provide the often hard to find opportunity to spend a concentrated period of time learning, discussing and reflecting on educational leadership without the inevitable interruptions of the school day. In addition, program offerings are aligned with the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders.

In an era of school accountability, the administrator is looked to as an instructional leader, reflective practitioner, catalyst, manager and facilitator who ensures that student achievement is improving. The summer programs specifically address all of these roles.

Because of the high intensity focus of the programs, participants get an opportunity for give and take with some of the leading researchers in educational leadership. This offers a chance to dig in and ask the researchers questions about their work participants have read and studied.

Each summer program also features highly enriching small discussion groups with colleagues who have a common base of experience, but who may have divergent viewpoints. These discussions can open new vistas as theories are presented by the researchers and participants have the opportunity to identify the practical applications they can take back and use at their school sites immediately. Through this they can begin to build a network of fellow school leaders who face the same daily challenges and whom they know well enough to call upon whenever they need support and advice.

Besides interacting with researchers and colleagues, each participant gets time to reflect on the learning experience, and how what was learned can be applied.

This is no run-of-the-mill professional development event. The daily schedule for the summer programs is rigorous. A typical day includes programs that begin at 8 a.m. and may not end until 10 p.m. Attendance is required at all sessions, unless otherwise indicated. Certificates of Completion of ACSA Summer Residential Programs for School Leaders at UCLA are provided only when participants attend all program events, unless prior arrangements have been authorized.

This year’s summer programs are the Principals’ Summer Institute and the Colloquium for New and Aspiring Principals.

Principals’ Summer Institute
June 23-29

An outstanding faculty of educational experts and school practitioners has been assembled. Moreover, participants will represent diverse educational settings from throughout California. This heterogeneity will deepen the exchange and learning around the leadership challenges confronting today’s school leaders.

As one Summer Institute participant from 2012 put it: “The topics were not only relevant, but pressing issues that we as administrators deal with on a day-to-day basis. Everything I learned enriched my knowledge, approach, repertoire of ideas and strategies. The connections with both institute staff and fellow principals are invaluable. I will keep in touch with them and use them as a resource, and I hope they will do the same with me.”

Topics will include: Leading the Learning; Working with a Diverse Community; Technology and Social Media Integration; Staying Legal; Using Data Effectively; and Teacher Evaluation and Supervision.

Faculty for 2013 will include Eugene Garcia, Kim Marshall, Ed Porter, Paula Rutherford, Mike Schmoker, Eric Sheninger and Harry Weinberg.

Colloquium for New and Aspiring Principals
July 8-12

The colloquium celebrates its 19th summer at UCLA in 2013 as ACSA’s largest residential program for school leaders. The Colloquium for New and Aspiring Principals will focus on development of the 21st century site leader.

There are many notable presenters, but it is the work done in small teams led by ACSA’s experienced, successful team leaders that separates this experience from other professional development events. Every day, and sometimes twice a day, participants meet with their teams to process the presentations, share insights, experiences and resources, fears and challenges. This is a time to ask questions and to give and accept nonjudgmental support from peers who are facing similar challenges.

One 2012 participant declared the colloquium to be, “Well worth the time and money. A valuable experience! I have a wealth of new ideas and strategies to use as a new principal. I also value the personal connections/contacts I’ve made as well!”

For registration and more information, please go to www.acsa.org/summerprograms, or contact ACSA Educational Services at (800) 608-2272.