Educators Attended United: The National Conference on School Leadership in Nashville, TN, USA, 15 – 17th July 2024

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 25 July 2024: The team comprised of four (4) of the newly appointed vice-principals – Monique Cox, Eliza Simons Primary; Vanda Harvey, Thelma Lightbourne Primary; Sharonica Grant, Oseta Jolly Primary; Porsha Robinson Saunders, Ianthe Pratt Primary; Principal, Earleen Elliott, Iris Stubbs Primary; and Education Officer, Sarah Kennedy.

Jon Gordon – Best-Selling Author

The participants attending this conference are current members of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) as International Associates. The NAESP, founded in 1921, is a professional Organisation serving elementary and middle school principals.  It supports school leaders in providing students with a well-rounded and complete education, which includes access to high-quality early learning, arts integration, and afterschool and summer learning; and strengthens the principal pipeline through mentor training and support for early career principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals.

The 2024 UNITED Conference, powered by NAESP and NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals)

focused on these themes:

• Building Leadership Capacity
• Instructional Leadership
• Leveraging Student Voice and Agency
• School Climate, Culture, and Inclusivity
• Whole School Wellness

Keynote Speakers for the event were:

• Jon Gordon – Best-Selling Author
• Rehema Ellis – Chief Education Correspondent for NBC News
• Sal Khan – founder and CEO of Khan Academy

A highlight of the conference expressed by Monique Cox, was the session on “Leading with Purpose” presented by Thomas Murray. He emphasised the importance of aligning leadership practices with a clear, impactful mission and demonstrated various team–building activities. The key takeaways include:

1. Clarity of Vision: Effective leaders must articulate a clear and compelling vision that resonates with their team and stakeholders, ensuring everyone understands and is committed to the common goal.
   

   Rehema Ellis – Chief Education Correspondent for NBC News

2. Values-Driven Leadership: Leading with purpose involves integrating core values into decision-making processes, fostering a culture of integrity, and setting an example for others to follow.
3. Empowering Others: Purposeful leaders empower their teams by providing the tools, support, and autonomy needed to innovate and excel, thus creating a more engaged and motivated workforce.
4. Sustainable Impact: Leadership with purpose prioritises long-term, sustainable impact over short-term gains, focusing on initiatives that benefit society and the environment.
5. Resilience and Adaptability: Leaders must be resilient and adaptable, able to navigate challenges while staying true to their purpose, thereby inspiring confidence and perseverance in their teams.

Porsha Robinson-Saunders noted, “A school staff that is divided and disconnected is weak and powerless. A school staff that is united is connected and powerful.”  These were words expressed by Jon Gordon, Keynote Speaker, on Building Leadership Capacity; Expanding Career Building and Professional Leadership Skills.”  Her key takeaways include:

1. Embrace positivity: By infusing positivity into everything, you can bring things to life and experience better, smoother days.

2. Celebrate teachers and students: Learning to celebrate both students and staff is crucial. When students and teachers feel valued and appreciated, it positively impacts the school environment and dynamics.

3. Embrace inclusive learning: It’s essential to include students with special needs in the learning process, fostering an environment of diversity and support within the school community.

4. Celebrate your school: Allow parents to clearly see the success of the school. By highlighting achievements and milestones, you can build a stronger connection between the school and the community.

5. Connect and network: Create a community of practice among peers in your field and position. Sharing ideas, being flexible, and approaching discussions with an open mind can lead to valuable collaborations and professional growth.

Sal Khan – founder and CEO of Khan Academy

Education Officer Sarah Kennedy commented that as Leaders, they were “given the opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich learning environment, empowering themselves to become effective change agents while focusing on their own professional growth. They plan to use the knowledge learned from top-notch speakers and other School Leaders to make more powerful contributions to improving their schools and advancing educational equity for their students.”

Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Rachel Taylor, added, “The mandate of the Ministry is to build human capital through the promotion of lifelong learning.  Building the capacity of our leaders in education puts them in a better position to transform their schools as they address the wholistic needs of their institutions.  I am excited about the potential impact of the conference and look forward to the meaningful changes that can and will occur as a result of the knowledge and skills acquired at the conference.  The Ministry’s aim is to support and encourage transformational leadership in our schools. Congratulations team!  I wish you a productive academic year 2024/2025 and beyond.”

The team is already making plans to participate in UNITED 2025.  In addition, the members of the team will share and implement the strategies they learned with their colleagues and they will strengthen the partnerships they’ve forged with other principals and vice principals from various nations.

Attending UNITED LEADERSHIP Conference provided access to valuable resources and a broad network of educators.