In this webinar, our panel of experts in educational leadership, Sara Dexter, Ed.D., Jennifer Bailey, Ed.D., David De Jong, Ed.D., Mike Johanek, Ed.D., and Trent Grundmeyer, Ph.D., discuss their research on school leader preparation and development and the impact of experiential learning opportunities through simulations. The purpose of this webinar is to provide context for the potential impact of simulation practice as a targeted professional development method that may go beyond pre-service preparation and continue as a learning pathway for in-service school leaders by examining the most recent research on leadership development. 

In this webinar, Dr. David De Jong, Dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University, facilitates our Cultural Competency simulation. Now is the time to lean into cultural competency to strengthen the relationships between the school and the community. Districts cannot assume staff understands cultural competence. Leaders must take the initiative to provide adequate space to discuss cultural differences and reestablish norms built on cultural competency. Talking about change is over. Now is the time for words to become actions.

During the webinar, district leaders will highlight a few key themes that have been on many leaders’ minds this time of year, including utilizing simulations for equity-centered principal preparation. What does it take for principals to lead schools successfully, and how prepared are they? Principals face a difficult task in ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate in a high-quality educational experience. In order to fulfill this challenge, school leadership must prioritize both equity and excellence and principals must be instructional leaders who prioritize equity.

This simulation takes place in a suburban school district at the end of the school year. After the prom, two students trespass on the high school principal’s property. It turns out that one of the students is a board member’s child. The superintendent must navigate the relationship with the board member and board chair and also decide how to support or manage the principal’s reaction to the incident.

In this webinar hosted by NHSAA as part of GSLA Graduation, Ken Spero, CEO & Founder of SchoolSims, facilitates our Board Relations simulation.

In this webinar, experts in Ed Leadership discuss how simulations play an integral role in the effectiveness of many of the top Educational Leadership Graduate Programs in the country. Representatives of these programs will discuss the integration of simulations into each of the panelists’ Educational Leadership Graduate Programs and how districts can enhance their principal pipeline and professional development programs with this experiential learning tool.

Have you ever wondered if you could research simulations? Are you interested in brainstorming ideas on how to collect data while facilitating simulations?

In this webinar, Dr. David De Jong from the University of South Dakota discusses overcoming inherent biases to improve student engagement through the use of simulations as an experiential learning technique. He will also share his published research about simulations, including his current research project which analyzes over 650 student responses to simulations in online, asynchronous courses.

This simulation involves a school leader at a struggling high school, seeking to build relationships and improve academic achievement while working with multiple stakeholder groups. Engaging with teachers and administrators, you’ll have the opportunity to confront behaviors that get in the way of academic achievement.

In this webinar hosted by NHSAA, Dr. Patrese A. Mason, facilitates our Stakeholder Management simulation.

How would you balance inputs and parent complaints in responding to allegations regarding a highly valued staff member?

In this webinar, Dr. David De Jong, Chair of the University of South Dakota Department of Educational Leadership, facilitates our Girl’s Basketball Coach simulation.

Stakeholder management is one of the most complex parts of being the head of a school. Satisfying the needs of one constituency can often create issues with another. In this webinar, Chris Hancock, Head of the Benchmark School, will facilitate our newest independent school simulation, Post Prom Prank.

In this discussion, we will discuss how simulations have benefited educational leadership preparation programs at major higher education institutions around the country and how the same tools can be used for principal preparation programs in districts. You will hear firsthand how simulations have changed Dr. Dexter’s perspectives on traditional teaching methods. Dr. Sara Dexter will speak about her personal experience and what she considers to be the ‘missing middle.’