Selected Current Programs/Projects

Ashland University Leadership Academy Seminars (Ohio) | Buckeye Association of School Administrators (Ohio) | Cabarrus County Schools (North Carolina) | Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools (North Carolina) | Clarksville/Montgomery County Schools (Tennessee) | Cleveland Heights-University Heights (Ohio) | Florida Association of District School Superintendents (Florida) | Guilford County Schools (North Carolina) | Lancaster County Schools (South Carolina) | Mahoning County Educational Service Center (Ohio) | Principals’ Executive Program-The Center for School Leadership Development, The University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Providence Schools (Rhode Island) | Southeast Local Schools (Ohio)

Ashland University Leadership Academy Seminars (Ohio)

The Ashland University Leadership Academy Seminars are scheduled annually for educational leaders and “provide a series of interactive presentations delivered by knowledgeable practitioners pertaining to contemporary issues in school administration.” Dr. Larry Coble, leads a seminar based on his book, Lessons Learned From Experience. The session includes 12 practical lessons in leading effectively and accompanying corollaries gleaned from over 400 practitioner leaders in 15 states. Seminar participants apply these lessons to their “real life” jobs back home and discuss the application with their colleagues who face similar challenges.

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Since its inception in 1994, Larry Coble has provided leadership training and development to each cohort of the Ohio School Leadership Institute, a leadership academy designed for school superintendents in the state of Ohio. Dr. Coble was the Institute’s first lead trainer and project manager and remains affiliated with the project as a trainer providing leadership development on major topics of interest to practicing superintendents.

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The current projects with the Cabarrus County Schools include 360 degree feedback for the superintendent’s cabinet, an aggregated profile of the cabinet’s strengths and developmental needs, recommendations for future leadership development, and a summer retreat for all of the administrators in the district. In addition, Dr. Coble is engaged in the planning/delivery phases of a multi-year leadership development project for principals.

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The Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools, a large urban school system, have implemented a leadership development design that allows principals to self-select topics under specific themes throughout the academic year. Dr. Coble currently provides training to selected principals on the following topics: Leading and Managing Change, Leading and Developing High Performing Teams, and Conflict Management.

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Work with the Clarksville/Montgomery County Schools currently involves leadership development activities for the superintendent’s cabinet, including 360 degree feedback and a group profile outlining the more critical developmental needs of the cabinet. In another project, Dr. Coble works with a cross section of the district’s classified and certified staff in the areas of culture and change.

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Current work captures the second year of a two year project with Cleveland Heights-University Heights and includes leadership development experiences for the school system’s district and building level administrators. The sessions are constructed around the following topics:

• The Hidden Leader, one of Dr. Coble’s current books,
• Leading and developing high performing teams,
• Tthe administration and debriefing of an organizational culture survey,
• Facilitative leadership.

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Since 2000, School Leadership Services has provided leadership training and development for Florida principals, district level leaders, and school superintendents. Training experiences for principals involve topics designed to enhance leadership capacity for positive impact on student achievement. District level leaders and superintendents experience a variety of leadership topics designed to increase their effectiveness as systems leaders.

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The Guilford County Schools have placed a priority on leadership development for principals and has made a long term (multi-day/multi-year) commitment to enhancing principal effectiveness through leadership development. Cohorts of up to 30 principals each participate in a 12 day leadership development program over the academic year. Leadership development themes include culture, change, staying on track and avoiding derailment, practical leadership lessons learned from experience, conflict management, data driven decision making, communication, organizational development, and leading and developing high performing teams. A “spin off” activity is work with selected schools to create healthier and higher performing school cultures.Return to top

The current project with the Lancaster County Schools consist of a summer leadership development experience for all school system administrators at the district and building levels. The experience allows practicing administrators to learn about and apply a variety of leadership concepts to their on-the-job challenges.

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The Mahoning County Educational Services Center provides support services to the numerous school districts located within Mahoning County. Their current leadership development project, delivered by School Leadership Services, is a multi-day program for approximately 120 administrators in the county and provides leadership development experiences in the areas of culture and change. The sessions include assessments for development, application of practical culture building exercises, and leading change effectively.

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Projects with the Principals’ Executive Program/The Center for School Leadership Development focus on leadership development for both new and experienced principals. Numerous topics are presented, including content/activities/exercises contained in Dr. Coble’s recent books:

• Lessons Learned From Experience
• The Hidden Leader
• Staying On Track.

Additional training is offered for “aspiring North Carolina superintendents” and is constructed around critical content for understanding the nature of the superintendency and practical information for surviving as a practicing superintendent.

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The Providence Schools have adapted and expanded many of the concepts advanced from the original “effective schools” research. Embedded in this process is high quality leadership development for principals. School Leadership Services maintains an on-going relationship with the district and delivers leadership development to support the district’s efforts to improve student achievement. A variety of topics is offered around contemporary leadership development themes. In addition, School Leadership Services provides training for the school board in order that board members be kept informed of the training provided for principals.

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The work with Southeast Local Schools focuses on teacher leaders and leadership development activities for administrative retreats. Sessions include activities, exercises, and assessments that lead to increased self-understanding and personal mastery. Other topics include reading and shaping a healthy school culture, decision making, conflict management, and working through difficult situations.

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