Women Superintendents Policy Leadership Academy

  • Our Goal

    The Policy Leadership Academy supports women leaders with a cross-national network, promoting the sharing of strategies, solutions, and ideas.

  • Vision

    The Academy provides a five-session hybrid learning program targeted to school superintendents and aspiring superintendents at the cabinet level that want to further develop their policy knowledge and voice.

  • Mission

    The mission of the Women Superintendents Policy Leadership Academy (WSPLA) is to improve and expand opportunities for Superintendents to engage in discussions around the current challenges and opportunities that they face in delivering an equity agenda that meets the learning needs of all students, particularly historically marginalized students in our nation.

 
 

Dr. Christina Kishimoto
Retired State Superintendent of Hawaii
Instructional Facilitator

The ALAS Women Superintendents Policy Leadership Academy (WSPLA) is designed for experienced leaders at the Superintendent or Cabinet level that want to further develop their policy leadership knowledge and voice. Using the Voice4Equity Culturally Responsive Policy Ecosystem™ design, participants will explore current challenges that they face in delivering an equity agenda that meets the learning needs of all students, particularly historically marginalized students in our nation. 

The WSPLA uses a five-session, Saturday academy design to ensure focused participation by all participants. Each session is two-hours long and highly engaging and interactive. The WSPLA uses a blended learning model that provides the convenience of online learning, while also providing an in-person session held at the ALAS Annual Conference.

ALAS is committed to supporting more women executive leaders to be part of the national equity policy discourse.

Please read the information below for program requirements, selection criteria, selection decisions, and program session attendance.

  • ALAS seeks dedicated and focus on any Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent in their development of the knowledge and navigating skills necessary to develop and drive education policy. The selection process is highly competitive due to the limited number of participants as designed by the cohort model. Ideally, candidates are serving as superintendents or assistant superintendents who plan to obtain a superintendent position. In addition, a candidate should have:

    • Served in a leadership position

    • A proven track record of leadership in a cabinet level setting

    • Ability to understand, lead education transformation

    • High level of energy, determination, and perseverance to act as an advocate for students, staff and the community at-large

    • Ability to learn quickly, possess analytical, and problem-solving skills

    • Excellent oral and written communication skills

    • Ability to work and succeed as a district systems leader, in a school district that serves all children with an emphasis on Latino, Black and marginalized students

    • Commitment to equity, excellence, for a high quality education for all students

    • Passion for improving public education and a long-term commitment to PK-12 education

    • Commitment to the mission and vision of ALAS

    • Commitment to “giving back” service of time and knowledge to ALAS

  • All applications are reviewed by the ALAS WSPLA Selection Committee, we are currently accepting applications for Fall Academy. The ALAS WSPLA Selection Committee Members have a strong understanding of the skills needed to succeed. Candidates selected to move forward in the application process will be notified on acceptance to the program.

  • A participant may be dropped from the program if absent for more than one session or is not fully committed to participate in this high-level leadership program. Sessions will take place via zoom with the exception of one (1) in person meeting at the 20th Annual National ALAS Education Summit.

    Click to view WSPLA Calendar

    • All WSPLA participants will pledge to attend all sessions of the WSPLA including the ALAS Education Summit (registration of the Summit is waived).

    • The Women Superintendent Policy Leadership Academy participants will be required to pay a $1500 tuition.

    • ALAS reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to these program requirements as circumstance may change from time to time.

    • NOTE: Participants will be dismissed and not be allowed to complete the program if they miss more than one session; if they are not ready to fully participate in this high quality leadership program; or if they are not committed to the ideals of the WSPLA by violating the Code of Conduct.

  • Register Here