Eighth graders at Golf Middle School in Morton Grove aren’t the only School District 67 graduates celebrating the achievement of hard-earned educational milestones this spring.
District 67 superintendent Beth Sagett-Fores, on May 14, graduated from a two-year fellowship at the Illinois School of Advanced Leadership cohort, a continuing education program that brought 28 superintendents from across the state together to network and learn new and effective ways to lead their school districts.
For one weekend every month during the past 14 months, Sagett-Flores went to Springfield to for leadership development training with other superintendents in the program.
Sagett-Flores talked about how she foresees her experience impacting the school district, from developing a plan for student achievement to finding better ways to manage her many day-to-day responsibilities.
Q: How did you end up in the Illinois School for Advanced Leadership program?
A: It was brought to my attention at a meeting two years ago for the Illinois Association of School Administrators, and I decided to apply. I found out I was accepted and started the program a few months later in January 2015.
Q: Do you feel the experience was worth the effort?
A: It was a wonderful opportunity to network and build relationships with other superintendents from different districts around the state. The experience was fabulous because I learned that it doesn’t matter which district you’re in—whether it’s from a rural town or a large suburb—we all deal with the same issues.
More Top Picks Remarkable Vs Supernote E Ink Tablets
Q: What did the program teach you about how to run the school district more effectively as the sole administrator?
A: Being able to take the time to network with other superintendents helps keep us strong. I’ve been able to better prioritize our needs as a school district as a result. When I came here three years ago there were so many things to work on—and this has given me the opportunity to learn what it means to prioritize.
Q: A segment of the program focuses on developing a district plan for student achievement and. How will the students you serve feel the impact of your new leadership training?
A: We embarked on a new strategic plan process this year as a school district that will hopefully help build continuity from year-to-year. There was a lot of administrative turnover here a few years ago prior to my coming here, so if we didn’t have a plan to guide us, we’d be in the same position year after year.
Q: Did the program address ways for public school districts, which rely on state funding for a significant part of their budgets, to get through the state’s ongoing budget impasse?
A: We have to be very conscious of our spending since the state of Illinois doesn’t have a complete budget. Our resources are limited and that causes certain challenges that we have to work our way out of.
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.