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 transform 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 year-long, part-time training for individuals preparing to take on heightened leadership roles in schools. LENS participants study the best practices of successful 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 and voice, with an equity lens
Managing strong adult culture by equipping and inspiring adults to perform successfully
Setting strong student 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:
Nine days of intense summer training – Leaders will take part in virtual training July 7-10, 2020 and July 13-17, 2020 – Three-hour content sessions per day delivered over nine days – Two to four hours of at-bat practice over nine days – Optional one-on-one office hours with BES coach available two times per week – Diversity, equity, and inclusion virtual training with Onward on Monday, June 29 from 12:00 – 3:00pm ET – Personal organization virtual training with The Together Leader on Tuesday, July 28 and Thursday, July 30 from 1:00 – 3:00pm ET
Two additional professional development trainings including 7+ school observations – November 4-7, 2020 | Nashville, TN or Virtual – March 24-27, 2021 | Boston, MA or Virtual Note: school observations will only take place if school is back in session and it is safe to conduct visits.
Leadership self-assessment and one-on-one coaching with BES staff on a regular basis via phone, email, and through an online video coaching platform
On-site visit by BES staff for observation and formal evaluative report
Structured network of support with colleagues in the LENS cohort
The 2020-21 LENS program costs $14,000 per participant (includes travel-related expenses). This is a reduced price due to budgetary implications of the current crisis.
Become a LENS leader:
How do you apply or nominate a leader for the LENS program?
STEP ONE: School leader nominates a participant for LENS. Nominate a LENS candidate through our online nomination form to inform us about your candidate’s role, strengths, and goals/professional priorities. Note that applicants must be currently coaching adults 2+ hours per week (or will take on this responsibility in 2020-21) to be considered for this opportunity. Each candidate must have a nomination form completed by their manager/school leader in order to be considered.
STEP TWO: After being nominated, the LENS leader candidate completes our online HireVue application. After being nominated by their manager/school leader, the LENS leader candidate must complete our online HireVue application. The application requires both written and video responses regarding the applicant’s current role, leadership style, and growth areas.
STEP THREE: BES reviews applications. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through May 15, 2020. Accepted candidates will be notified within approximately 10 business days after applying. Note that candidates must have both a nomination from their school leader/manager and a completed HireVue application in order to be considered.
LENS leaders are:
committed to school leadership
aligned with BES beliefs about excellent leaders and schools
proven effective teachers at the classroom level
recently elevated to leadership or considered to be on track for school leadership in one to two years
currently coaching adults in schools for more than two hours per week (or will be doing so in the 2020-2021 school year)
available to participate in the full calendar of LENS training
BES Leadership Intensives (formerly Weekend Warriors) provide study of transformative schools and targeted training in instructional and operational leadership.
Through BES Leadership Intensives, leaders sharpen the skills they need to run a transformational school that ensures opportunity and success for students in their communities.
Each intensive is a rigorous two-day training under the leadership of BES staff and expert presenters. The first day begins with a visit to and study of an exemplary school, where participants are exposed to the best practices in school leadership. On the second day, participants then immerse themselves in a full day of training.
Through analysis and hands-on workshops, 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, Two Trainings
Whether you’re a school leader, instructional coach, network director, or leading from the operations office, Leadership Intensives have something for you. Spend two days with us, pick a targeted leadership training, and tackle Monday morning with sharper focus and stronger skills.
FRIDAY Participants start with a half-day dedicated to the study of high-performing schools. The day continues with thin-slicing the details of the schools’ best practices and a school leadership panel discussion.
SATURDAY Participants will choose from specialized trainings, carefully tailored to individuals in different leadership roles.
Instructional Leadership: Participants will learn how to establish an instructional coaching presence and lens to quickly move teachers along a continuum of teaching success. Operational Leadership: Participants will learn how to develop an operational leadership mindset that ensures instructional staff can focus only on educating students.
2019-2020 COST $1500 for two days, or $750 for one day
Upcoming Trainings
Given the rapidly developing news and concerns around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming Leadership Intensive training in Houston, originally scheduled for April 3-4. As you likely know, many events are being cancelled, many US colleges and universities are opting to host all classes online, and some K-12 schools and districts are closing.
We are committed to providing school leaders with the learning opportunities they need, while also doing our part to follow the guidance of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control regarding containing the spread of COVID-19. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and will keep you abreast of future leadership training dates.
For more information about Leadership Intensives (formerly Weekend Warriors), please contact Stephanie Hellested at shellested@bes.org.
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.
Profile of a BES Summer Leader
The ideal Summer Leader will be…
aligned with BES beliefs about excellent leaders and schools
seriously considering school leadership
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 Institute
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 stipend and May Orientation housing/travel provided
Update on Summer Leaders Institute:
Due to the growing concerns and uncertainty around COVID-19, we will not be holding Summer Leaders Institute during the summer of 2020. Our 2020 cohort will be guaranteed spots in our 2021 class of Summer Leaders.
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 receive:
Management Non-Negotiables Ensure that the managers in your school have the tools to be effective and drive growth.
Leadership Self-Reflection Dig deep into your personal goals and habits to ensure your commitment to students is long-term and sustainable.
Talent Development and Hiring Create repeatable, objective plans for future staffing decisions and building a talent pipeline.
DiSC Playbook Use the DiSC survey to teach your leaders how to adapt their communication to be more effective for various stakeholders.
Support from Cohort of Like-Minded Leaders Cohort members will have the opportunity to visit each other’s schools to calibrate their bar for academic excellence.
Cost
Anchoring Excellence costs $15,000. This includes:
In-person school audit and coaching twice per year
One-hour virtual executive coaching session every two weeks
Two in-person cohort meetings
360-degree survey and analysis
DiSC survey and analysis
Feedback, strategy, and problem-solving support with BES coach as needed
Application
The application for the 2020-2021 Anchoring Excellence cohort has now closed.
For more information about Anchoring Excellence, please contact Krista Pendergast at kpendergast@bes.org.
BES is offering the following coaching supports for the 2020-2021 academic year. Scroll down to learn more.
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. Coaching sessions include tailored feedback, strategy, and problem-solving support in which leaders are equipped with the lens, mindset, and tools required to consistently perform at the top of their game.
Executive coaching is for any experienced principal or school leader that wishes to focus on advancing organizational priorities and outcomes. Coaching options are tailored to the needs of the school leader and include remote-only biweekly or monthly coaching with optional school visits from the BES coach. Click here to view our executive coaching options and pricing.
Cost varies depending on coaching frequency and school leader needs
Operations 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 the equivalent of one to two hours per month during the academic year, tailoring their advice and approach to most effectively coach to excellence.
Coaching sessions include feedback, strategy, and problem-solving support to design and executive highly efficient and impactful operational practices. Coaching options include remote-only monthly coaching or remote monthly coaching with one school visit from BES coach to conduct an on-site operations audit.
$3,000 for monthly remote coaching only $5,000 for monthly remote coaching with one visit (includes travel costs) $2,000 for additional on-site visit from BES coach with either coaching option (includes travel costs)
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 conducts 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
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
Registrations for 2020-2021 are now open. Fill out the form below to get in touch with our team about bringing coaching support to your school.
For questions about coaching, please contact Krista Pendergast at kpendergast@bes.org.
Why BES
What Leaders Are Saying
“My leadership gains from the LENS program have been noteworthy, and my gains in community and mentorship have been astronomical. My fellow LENS leaders helped to shape not only my leadership skills, but our school’s culture as we prepare to open our doors for the first time.”
Jerome Reyes
School President, Butler Academy, SC
“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, Independence Academy, Intrepid College Prep, TN
“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
Director of Growth and Infrastructure, Compass Rose Education, Inc., TX
“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 Head of School 2015-2019, 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 Director, Soulsville Charter School, TN