Leadership Fellows Program

The priority application deadline for Leadership Fellows is July 15th!

The job of an independent school leader can be complicated and rewarding–and on some days, it’s pretty darn tough. Often working directly with many constituent groups, school leaders require a myriad of interpersonal and professional skills in order to lead, to collaborate effectively, and to have impact. With an ever-more complicated world landscape, it’s essential to not only be an effective leader but also make the work joyful and sustainable by better knowing oneself and the needs of the position.

This Fellowship for experienced educators from throughout California supports the unique demands of independent school leaders—the only program of its kind in the state! Facilitated by two Heads of School (one former and one current), the Leadership Fellows Program offers time for personal reflection on one’s leadership journey, practical knowledge and skill development specifically targeted to independent school leadership, as well as supportive professional connections.

The program opens with a two-day retreat in Santa Barbara designed to allow the cohort to connect and reflect as well as engage in sessions designed to hone leadership capacities. Other sessions might include case studies, problem-based discussions, and activities that will challenge participants to reflect on their roles and encourage the development of their skills in their schools or for next steps in their careers.

Goals:

• To provide experienced preK-12 leaders with the knowledge, skills, and resources important for senior level leadership;
• To provide time and space to “see oneself” clearly and reflect on where each person is–uniquely–in their leadership journey;
• To address topics such as leadership EQ, communication, team building, systems thinking, strategic planning, and organizational health;
• To develop and strengthen relationships and networks of support among school leaders.

CATDC is delighted to structure Leadership Fellows in a hybrid model: with an overnight retreat in Santa Barbara, one virtual cohort check in, one visit to a cohort member’s school (individuals to visit a local colleague’s school), and two day-long sessions, one in Northern and one in Southern California. In addition, participants will have the opportunity for a virtual individual mentoring session with the facilitators.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

Individuals who are or aspire to be senior leaders and/or heads of school. Preferably individuals with five years experience in a leadership capacity in academic roles (academic deans, division directors or deans of curriculum/teaching and learning, dei) or non-academic ones (admissions, development, communications, or business office).

DATES

RETREAT: October 27 - 29, 2023 at Santa Barbara Inn

SESSION 1: Date TBA | Virtual

SESSION 2: Date TBA | Southern California location

COACHING SESSION: Dates TBA | Virtual

SESSION 4: Date TBA | Northern California location

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

CATDC and our host schools will be working together to do all we can to ensure your health and safety during our in-person session, monitoring closely nationwide, state, and local updates and recommendations. We ask that you do not attend if you are infected with Covid, have Covid symptoms, or have had close contact with someone who is infected in the last 10 days.

Starting February 2023, we will no longer check vaccination status at the first session of our workshops, but we strongly encourage all CATDC participants to be fully vaccinated.

Given the nature of our in-person programs which gather individuals together from a variety of schools and regions, CATDC may also require or strongly recommend masking indoors and/or testing on a program-by-program basis. Any updated recommendations or requirements will be communicated to participants in a timely fashion prior to a program or session. All Covid-related refund requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Thank you for your understanding and your cooperation.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for.

Registration may be transferred to a different person up to 7 days before a session. However refunds will not be given, and a session missed for any reason will not be refunded.

Below we have outlined our cancellation and refund policy, which we have in place to ensure the most accurate numbers when we secure well in advance locations, catering, and facilitators. Thank you for understanding.

For our ongoing programs or one-day intensives, refunds are available (less a $50 processing fee) up to 22 days before the scheduled starting date. We are unable to provide refunds for cancellations made 21 days or less prior to the first day of a workshop. A missed session that is part of an ongoing program is non-refundable and non-transferrable. For our summer institutes refunds are available (less a $50 processing fee) up to 30 days before the scheduled starting date. We are unable to provide refunds for cancellations made 29 days or less prior to the first day of a summer institute.

Please contact us by email as soon as you know you cannot attend a workshop. This will allow us time to contact our waitlist and hopefully fill your spot.