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COLLEAGUE to COLLEAGUE

What did you learn from the Emerging Leader Summit last month?

Last month, PASBO and Ohio ASBO hosted a joint Emerging Leader Summit in Erie. The 2-day workshop
offered a unique learning and development opportunity because it encompassed a study of historical events – the
Battle of Lake Erie – and translated those events into modern leadership principles and techniques. Those below
were fortunate to attend the first Emerging Leader Summit ,and below, they share their thoughts on the insights
they gained through their participation.

Amy Simmons, PCSBO Steve Dolak
Business Manager Business Administrator
Midd-West School District Central Columbia School District

Strategy and communication are key! When reading Considering I am starting at a new district, something
The Lake Erie Campaign of 1813: I shall Fight Them that I took away from the Leader Summit is that the first
This Day, it became clear that while leaders have a huge 100 days is critical to set the tone in your new role. While
responsibility to their supervisor/community they also you might be used to doing something a certain way, it is
have a responsibility their followers. As leaders we need best to work with your new staff to determine if they may
to be open to listening to our followers and working with have a more efficient process than what you are used to,
them as a team. Developing strategies together can help rather than making drastic changes. Also, it is better to
to avoid problems and show our followers that we are be lucky than good!
listening to their thoughts and ideas. When leaders “buy
in” their followers will too.
Vonda Kelso
Accounting Controller
Jason Little Big Spring School District
Assistant Director of Physical Plant
State College School District
Some takeaways I have from the summit are the
Lake Erie was a great setting for meeting other district importance of effective communication and listening.
leaders and I really enjoyed how this training combined It is a way to empower your team and get them to
the local history of Erie with various leadership principles. understand the organization’s mission and the importance
At the end I realized a lot of district personnel are faced of everyone in achieving that mission. Also listening
with the same day to day challenges. Moving forward to your team is important in getting to know your
I hope to focus more on my district's mission statement team and their strengths. Another thing is to strategize
and relate those goals to my daily routine. before execution and realize some problems can only be
managed not solved.

September 12