BES leadership training is designed to equip emerging and established leaders with the skills and resources they need to deliver for their students and communities. Our programs cover nearly every aspect of running a school, from managing difficult conversations and coaching in real-time, to developing instructional models and supporting school operations.
Behind every excellent school is an excellent leader. BES training enables leaders to inspire their teachers and improve the lives of their students — all while honing their skills and elevating their careers.
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Tailored Support for Maximum Impact
Leadership Development
At BES, we recognize that leaders need to be supported and challenged in the right way at the right time. From yearlong cohort-based trainings to short, two-day intensives, to coaching tailored to specific needs, our leadership and organizational development programs do just that.
Cohort-based On-site visits Video assignments Remote coaching
DURATION
One year
scroll down for program details
LENS: Leaders for Emerging Networks of Schools
Leaders for Emerging Networks of Schools, or LENS, is yearlong, part-time training for individuals preparing to take on heightened leadership roles within urban schools. LENS participants study the best practices of successful charter schools from across the nation and develop their leadership voice and mindset through hands-on coaching. LENS is a valuable tool for schools looking to build their leadership bench and equip a new wave of leaders.
LENS provides robust content and training on:
Developing a leader’s mindset, lens, and voice
Managing strong adult culture by equipping and inspiring adults to perform successfully
Setting appropriate school culture, including arrivals, transitions, thresholds, discipline, and classroom systems
Delivering effective instruction, including curriculum, rigor, classroom routines and procedures, and assessment
LENS training consists of the following:
Eight days of intense summer training – June 23 (travel day) – July 1, 2019 | Boston, Massachusetts
Two additional professional development trainings including four+ school observations – November 6-8, 2019 | Nashville, Tennessee – March 18-20, 2020 | Boston, Massachusetts
Leadership coaching with BES staff on a regular basis via phone, email, and through an online video coaching platform
Leadership development self-assessment reviewed by BES staff
On-site visit by BES staff member for observation and formal evaluative report
Structured network of support with colleagues in the LENS cohort
recently elevated to leadership or considered to be on track for school leadership in one to two years
available to participate in the full calendar of LENS training
Cost 2019-2020
LENS costs $15,000 per participant. This includes:
On-site trainings (initial eight days of training, additional six days of training)
Hours of detailed leadership coaching from BES staff
Access to the online coaching portal
The leadership development self-assessment
Travel, hotel accommodations, and food for on-site trainings
Application
The 2019 LENS application is now closed. Applications for the 2020 LENS cohort will be accepted in the spring. To be considered, each LENS candidate must have:
A nomination form completed and submitted by their school leader.
BES Leadership Intensives (formerly Weekend Warriors) equip ambitious educators to improve student outcomes through study of high-achieving urban charter schools and role-specific trainings on school leadership.
Each Leadership Intensive is a two-day training that begins with a visit to an exemplary school, where participants are exposed to the best practices in school leadership. Participants then immerse themselves in a full day of training on instructional coaching, operational coaching, hiring and selection, and managing and leading adults, all in service of improving student outcomes.
Through analysis and role-playing, participants learn how to effectively manage their organizations so that they can concentrate on the goal at hand: educating all students at high levels.
Two Days, Four Tracks
Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or running the show from the operations office, Leadership Intensives have something for you. Spend two days with us, pick a track, and tackle Monday morning with sharper focus and stronger skills.
FRIDAY Leadership Intensives kick off with a half-day dedicated to school observation, get down to details with thin-slicing, and are capped off with an afternoon school leadership panel for all participants.
SATURDAY Participants select two sessions from four different tracks carefully tailored to individuals at different levels of leadership:
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
ELEMENTARY LEADERSHIP
MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP
Leadership Intensive participants can expect rigorous training with BES staff and our dedicated adjunct instructors.
Upcoming Trainings
Check back for updates.
For more information about Leadership Intensives, please contact Stephanie Hellested at shellested@bes.org or over the phone at 617-227-4545 x228.
Summer Leaders Institute
BES Summer Leaders are driven individuals who show talent in the classroom and aspire to become school leaders through the BES Fellowship. During this training, Summer Leaders develop their classroom and leadership skills alongside BES coaches and school leaders.
SLI consists of an orientation in Boston, followed by a 20-day residency at a top charter school. During orientation, our trainers introduce the Summer Leaders to the work of BES and what it takes to lead a high-performing school. The on-site residencies provide participants with the opportunity to work on projects and learn directly from accomplished school leaders.
BES may extend acceptance into the Fellowship for qualified individuals at the end of the Summer Leaders Institute.
a demonstrated leader with a track record of outstanding and measurable results
available to participate in orientation and subsequent program dates
Components of the Summer Leaders Internship
Orientation: Leading a High-Performing Charter School | two days
Four-Week Leadership Residency: Practical, Hands-On Exposure to a BES School (placement chosen by BES) | working on a project designed by school leadership and a BES Director of Leadership Development, of importance to the host school and of learning value to the Summer Leader
Formal work and presentation on a capstone project
$5,000 internship stipend and May Orientation housing/travel provided
The application for the 2019 Summer Leaders Institute is closed.
Anchoring Excellence challenges and supports leaders of high-achieving schools in years three and beyond to propel student growth and achievement while sustaining organizational growth over time.
During the program, senior leaders create, practice, and codify:
Teacher Coaching and Leadership Development Playbooks
Define the cycle of teacher coaching, lesson internalization, lesson execution, observation, coaching, and feedback.
Detail the cycle of looking at student work, data analysis, and action-planning for results.
Specify the plans and processes for growing roles and leaders within the school and larger organization.
Manager Playbooks
Define what it means to be a manager at the school, both for operational and instructional staff.
Detail what managers do in all areas and what their specific responsibilities are.
Specify the required “school way” of doing certain things and areas where a manager has more discretion and autonomy.
Talent Development and Hiring Playbooks
Define repeatable and objective plans for future staffing decisions and building a talent pipeline.
Detail recruitment and hiring processes to effectively distribute responsibilities across multiple roles as needed.
Aligned Curricula
Define approaches to catching students up and pushing them to their full academic potential.
Detail what curricula are used, where there is consistency across instruction, and where there is autonomy to innovate.
DiSC Playbook
By analyzing their own results, leaders coach members of their team to adapt their communication to achieve better results.
Anchoring Excellence includes:
School visits with coaching three times per year
Executive coaching every two weeks
In-person cohort meetings twice per year
360-degree survey and analysis
DiSC survey and analysis
Availability for feedback, strategy discussions, and problem-solving as requested
Cost
The cost of Anchoring Excellence is $15,000.
For more information about Anchoring Excellence, please contact Luke Van de Walle at lvandewalle@bes.org.
BES is offering the following coaching supports for the 2019 -2020 academic year. Scroll down to learn more.
Strategic Support Review
Through Strategic Support Reviews, the BES team works with school leaders to thin-slice the organizational health of the school, identifying levers that will continue to drive the health and integrity of the organization.
The SSR is an annual, daylong process during which the school leadership team is pushed to think more critically about the school to strengthen their impact and improve the quality growth of their organization.
At the end of the review, the BES team will create a detailed report for the school, including an action plan intended to equip leaders to accelerate student achievement, ensure operational health, and lead the school to its next stage of success.
The SSR team is typically composed of one BES staff member and one visiting leader from a peer school who conduct the review alongside the school leader and select members from the school leadership team.
$5,000 per visit + associated travel costs Includes pre-visit consultation and post-visit check-in
Executive Coaching
Executive coaching is designed to support and challenge the most senior leaders in an organization on the skills and mindset they need to execute at the highest level. Coaches – selected based on the needs of the executive leader – provide remote coaching for one hour every other week during the academic year, tailoring their advice and approach to most effectively coach to excellence.
Through these sessions, leaders are equipped with the lens, mindset, and tools required to consistently perform at the top of their game.
$4,000 per participant One-hour calls every other week during the academic year
Operations Leadership Coaching
Operations leadership coaching is designed to support and challenge the most senior operational leaders in an organization on the skills and mindset they need to execute at the highest level. Selected based on the needs of the operational leader, coaches provide remote support for one hour every month during the academic year, tailoring their advice and approach to most effectively coach to excellence.
Through these sessions, leaders are equipped with the lens, mindset, and tools required to consistently perform at the top of their game.
$2,000 for one hour of remote coaching every month during the academic year
Operations Training and Coaching
Operations Training and Coaching is a six-part webinar series designed to equip operations teams in schools currently in their building or growing phase with the skills and resources required to design and execute highly efficient and impactful operational practices.
In addition to the webinars, teams receive six hours of virtual coaching tailored to specific challenges.
$2,500 per school for six, two-hour webinars plus six hours of virtual coaching
Culture Coaching
Webinar series designed to train school leadership in cultural best practices – in systems, operations, spaces, rituals, and celebrations – with targeted support aimed at executing new or refining existing practices.
$2,000 for five, two-hour webinars
Instructional Coaching
Webinar series designed to train school leadership in instructional best practices – in systems, coaching, feedback, classroom observations, and teacher PD, with targeted support aimed at refining current systems, coaching sessions, and professional development series within their schools.
$2,000 for five, two-hour webinars
To learn more or sign up, fill out the form below. Submissions received after May 15 are subject to availability.
For more information about coaching, please contact Stephanie Hellested at shellested@bes.org or 617-227-4545 x228.
Why BES
Thoughts from Our Leaders
“LENS equipped me to be an effective school leader. The summer training experience was transformative. I received targeted development in coaching and developing teachers; handling challenging, crucial conversations; generating and executing a weekly schedule; and discovering and maintaining a strong leadership voice and presence. Once summer training concluded, the development and assistance I received continued with a leadership coach. Having a coach during my first year as a school leader was invaluable as I received critical guidance for any and all situations that arose.”
Parker Couch
Co-Founder & School Director, Grizzlies Prep, TN
“My time in the LENS program has proven to be invaluable as I continue to grow as a leader within my school. Heading into the school year as a new principal, I felt confident knowing that LENS had equipped me with the skills and resources necessary to sustain a strong school culture focused on academic achievement and adult accountability. Through LENS, I was able to find and strengthen my leadership presence. “
Lizzie Stewart
Principal, Opportunity Academy, Intrepid College Prep, TN
“LENS training was invaluable to me in my development as I prepare to lead as principal. The heightened level of discussion, precision detail in sessions, and frequent direct feedback raised the bar for my own growth and the level of development I was prepared to bring back to my school. Continued support throughout the year was incredibly individualized allowing me to address specific needs at my school. As a school leader, I am certain I will be sending future leaders to LENS to continue pushing our team toward our vision. LENS truly pushed me to grow and polish my leadership presence.”
Kate Freudenheim
Assistant School Leader, Tulsa Honor Academy, OK
“To describe my LENS experience in one word, I choose elevating. Working alongside LENS leaders and the thoughtful feedback of my coach challenged me in many ways. I now feel more confident and effective as a leader. I highly recommend LENS to all individuals who serve in supportive leadership roles for their school.”
Maya G. Robinson
High School Dean of Students, Soulsville Charter School, TN
“I’m grateful to be part of a community of school leaders who work together to build one another’s capacity and thereby the collective capacity of our schools.”
Vanessa Jackson
2013 BES Fellow, Executive Director, Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles
