Leadwell Accelerator: A Teacher Retention Strategy
Educator turnover is a costly problem.
Richard Ingersoll estimates that teacher turnover costs districts upwards of $2.2 billion a year. You see the cost to students and to your budget line. While a substantial amount of COVID relief funds were channeled to address workforce needs through professional development, these efforts rarely included Central Office staff development. Setting aside personal reasons, teachers cite frustration with policies and administration as a top reason for leaving the profession*. There is a misalignment between school performance demands and the work practices and capacities of central office staff. Achieving strong student outcomes requires us to support central office staff’s capacity to adapt and lead.** Thriving students and schools need a thriving system to support them.
Investing in School District Professional Development will increase teacher retention.
A small investment in the culture of a district from the top can build employee engagement and upskill staff to make the district stronger as a whole. We know from other fields that a key element of retention is creating a culture that employees want to be a part of. According to a 2019 Glassdoor study, more than 2/3 of employees cite a “good company culture” as one of the main reasons they elect to stay in a job. A small investment in the professional learning of district staff has the potential to increase teacher retention.
*LPI analysis of the Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), 2013, from the Schools and Staffing Surveys, National Center for Education Statistics
**Honig, M. From Tinkering to Transformation: Strengthening School District Central Office Performance).
Leadwell Accelerator
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Lead from your strengths. Help people thrive. Become an agent of change.
The most effective professional learning happens in community with teammates, learning through direct application. Deepen authentic relationships and become increasingly equitable leaders while applying leadership skills to current problems of practice.
Offer 30+ hours of cohort-based learning, or select a customized workshop (from two-hours to three full days).
Impact
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Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) decided to make a radical investment in their central office leaders. By design, school districts allocate resources in direct service of students and schools. DPSCD held a both/and view: a deeply held value of Students First, and a recognition that central office leaders are critical as they carry out organizational vision in service of students and schools. Researchers highlight the importance of learning organizations that prioritize central office leadership development (Honig et al, 2012). However, these leaders are overlooked when it comes to professional development.
Leadwell and DPSCD partnered to create the DPSCD Leadership Forum - a cohort-based program for central office leaders of all levels. Over six months, Leadwell designed 54 modules grounded in research-based competencies - including facilitator guides, session plans, session presentations, participant workbooks, and evaluation surveys - with DPSCD feedback at every step of the way. Leadwell facilitated a Train-the-Trainer to position DPSCD leaders to facilitate the program. This signature professional development program is rooted in experiential learning and grounded in equity. The curriculum creates space to form a transformational community while building lasting skills.
Participants have stepped into larger roles, grown as managers, and shifted organizational culture. Upon completion of the pilot:
Approximately 23% of participants earned a promotion within the calendar year
Leaders applied tactical management skills to support their teams and achieve results, facilitating more effective check-ins, giving direct feedback, and leveraging project management frameworks
Participants transformed collaboration and connection, building trust with one another and creating new cross- departmental collaboration structures
Participants said:
“I left this program with a lot of insightful information and useful tools to begin implementing in my current role and in preparation for a future leadership role.” - Aspiring Managers cohort participant
“The Leadership Forum allowed me to think more critically about what it truly means to be an effective leader and how to lead with an equitable and inclusive mindset. It allowed me to connect with colleagues across the district to engage in personal growth that in turn will help me to influence positive change within my team and ultimately throughout the District. " - Managers cohort participant
Clients said:
Leadwell “helped us move from a big idea to a fully realized initiative, and through each step in the journey, they brought knowledge, skill and thought partnership that pushed our work to the next level. We are so grateful to be their partners.” - Elizabeth Cutrona, Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Academics, Detroit Public Schools Community District
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District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) sought to transform culture and strengthen engagement within their Central Services team. DCPS partnered with Leadwell to offer customized Leadwell Accelerator workshops focused on specific leadership skills, capacities, and mindsets in order to advance their strategic priorities and cultural work. DCPS and Leadwell collaborated to identify 9 out of the existing 54 Leadwell Accelerator modules to offer DCPS Central Services leaders, through a series of three workshops:
Transforming Culture, focused on: leading with purpose & strengths, inclusive culture, and collaboration. 100% of participants strongly agreed or agreed with the statement: “Overall, this workshop was a valuable use of my time”
Leadership Fundamentals, exploring: ways of being & doing in leadership, feedback, and influence. 100% of participants strongly agreed or agreed with the statement: “The workshop was well facilitated”
Excel Now & Develop for Future, empowering aspiring managers to identify and build on their strengths, give feedback, and motivate others. 100% of participants strongly agreed or agreed with the statement: “The workshop gave me useful ideas and tools to improve in my job.”
DCPS invited members of existing cross-departmental leadership groups to opt-in to the workshop series as participants. Each workshop guided participants to explore three frames of leadership: knowing SELF, supporting TEAMS, and navigating SYSTEMS. Participants focused on research-based competencies such as: Self awareness, Self development, Give feedback, Build inclusive culture, Collaborate, and Influence. DCPS also chose to offer a Train-the-Trainer to equip DCPS leaders to expand the reach of the Leadwell Accelerator workshops, delivering content throughout their departments. DCPS Central Services leaders gained leadership skills in community with one another. Participants said:
“I have learned a lot in such a short period of time; actionable items that I can immediately implement in my current role at my organization.”
“I loved the warm and engaging environment that the Leadwell Accelerator workshop created. This created a bonding experience for me and my colleagues to learn together, supporting our professional and personal growth. I feel empowered to implement today's learning in my workplace.”
What Districts Are Saying
“Working with Leadwell has helped us spend much needed time focusing on the development of our central office managers. As an often overlooked group, the customized, cohort-based development that Leadwell co-designed and co-facilitated with us has led to meaningful professional learning for some of our highest-potential leaders. Cannot recommend Leadwell enough for your organization's talent development needs!”
— Detroit Public Schools Community District Client
“I loved the warm and engaging environment that the Leadwell Accelerator workshop created. This created a bonding experience for me and my colleagues to learn together, supporting our professional and personal growth. I feel empowered to implement today's learning in my workplace.”
— DC Public Schools Participant
“The Leadership Forum allowed me to think more critically about what it truly means to be an effective leader and how to lead with an equitable and inclusive mindset. It allowed me to connect with colleagues across the district to engage in personal growth that in turn will help me to influence positive change within my team and ultimately throughout the District. "
— Detroit Public Schools Community District Participant
Solve retention challenges in your mission-driven organization
The Leadwell Accelerator can be adapted for other mission-driven organizations who are looking to support and retain leaders.
“This program was simply amazing. It provided hands-on and directly applicable strategies for my everyday interactions with my team. I am leaving today with more confidence and optimism with my abilities and potential growth in leadership positions.” - Clinic Team Lead Participant