Middle Leader Certificate

MIDDLE LEADER CERTIFICATE

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MIDDLE LEADER CERTIFICATE

FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO CREATE IMPACT

Teacher leaders are crucial partners in facilitating school change that has a direct and meaningful impact on student learning. The Middle Leader Certificate Programme translates quality research around teacher leadership into a credible professional pathway. The programme identifies and nurtures the skills and behaviours needed to be an effective teacher leader who influences their school community.

Through our programme, middle leaders develop their skills and deepen their knowledge to become effective catalysts of school-wide change. Our courses are rigorous and are mapped to the standards for professional learning promulgated by Learning Forward in the United States, as well as leadership behaviours and attitudes promoted by the Department for Education in the United Kingdom.

COURSE COMPONENTS & TIMINGS

To earn the ECIS Programme Certificate, learners must complete any four courses. All courses are 100% online for the foreseeable future.

In each course section below, there are two links. The first is to register interest to attend a future event where the date has yet to be determined. Simply complete the form and we will let you know as and when courses become available. The second link will take you to our events calendar to see our current MLC courses.

Learning is split into four sessions which either take the form of two mornings or two afternoons, or split across 4 days.

PLUS: Tailor-made courses to suit your school and your timezone. Download our course booklet, or contact Sarah Kupke for more information: sarah@ecis.org

ASSESSMENT AND LEADERSHIP

What role do middle leaders play in ensuring teachers are engaged in current, best practice around assessment? We know that assessment is most useful when teachers know how to use it to improve learning and achievement. This course draws on the latest research and literature about assessment and explores it through a middle leadership lens.

This course covers several key areas that will deepen understanding of best practices that lie at the heart of assessment, including assessment for learning and feedback. Participants will explore how to influence and support their team with the use of assessment to inform teaching and learning. The course will look specifically at how feedback can be used to optimise learning and progress.

The course will also unpack how leaders can make sure that assessment is accessible for all students and consider the role of leaders in supporting wellbeing in relation to assessment.

At the end of the course, participants will leave fully equipped with practical knowledge and powerful strategies to lead assessment for learning with real confidence.

Key questions

· What is assessment and why does it matter?

· Where do assessment for learning and feedback fit in and what does best practice look like?

· What do leaders need to do to make sure assessment is for all learners and how can we support wellbeing in relation to assessment?

· How can a middle leader influence their team to implement best practice?

If this course is scheduled to run, you will find it listed on our events calendar via the link below. If it is not currently listed and you would like to be kept informed about future courses, please visit the REGISTER INTEREST link.

EVENTS CALENDAR

BUILDING AND LEADING TEAMS

We know that building and leading an effective team is an important step in enabling individual and collective success. This course explores how middle leaders can create cohesive and collaborative teams that are focused on student learning.

The course draws on the extensive body of literature and research in order identify what is most useful, practical and productive in leading teams. Teachers and administrators are by definition expected to be leaders. The key is to use that authority thoughtfully, sensitively, and productively. Should we find ourselves in the role of a leader without perceived authority – a more informal position, it is a different dynamic.

Participants leave the course with a clear understanding of how to build a high functioning team in order to transform learning.

· What are some characteristics of a highly functioning team?

· How can I facilitate the creation of a team focused on student learning?

· How can protocols, structures and norms facilitate thinking and a focus on student learning?

· What types of conversations are critical, and when are they likely to occur?

· What processes and behaviours can be prepared in advance to enable difficult situations and conversations to be well managed?

EVENTS CALENDAR

COACHING & LEADERSHIP

Coaching is an important leadership approach for teacher leaders because it focuses on getting the best out of people by unlocking and unleashing their potential. In an educational context, coaching is about developing people so that they are empowered to solve problems and navigate their way through challenge and change. It supports well-being and gives people the skills and confidence to have better conversations and figure things out.

At an organisational level, coaching is pivotal to continuous and sustainable development. This course will equip middle leaders to develop the beliefs, knowledge, skills and understanding to adopt a coaching approach in their everyday practice.

During the course, participants will explore key coaching theory and have practical opportunities to translate this into practice. They will explore how effective coaches listen well and ask powerful questions. Across the two days, they will build a toolkit of strategies and approaches apply in their own context. They will leave the course with the confidence and skills to become a ‘coaching leader’.

Key questions

· What is coaching and how can we develop a coaching mindset?

· What is the role of listening in coaching and why does it matter?

· How can asking better questions enable better conversations?

· What tools and techniques do we need in our coaching toolkit?

Check the calendar on this page to see if this course is available. You can also visit the main events page here:

If this course is scheduled to run, you will find it listed on our events page via the link below. If it is not currently listed and you would like to be kept informed about future courses, please visit the REGISTER INTEREST link.

EVENTS PAGE

CURRICULAR DESIGN AND LEADERSHIP

At the centre of middle leadership is a commitment and desire to improve student learning. We know there are several factors that impact student learning and at the top of the list of school-related factors is a guaranteed and viable curriculum.

For it to have real impact, it needs to be far more than just a piece of paper. This course unpacks the role that middle leaders play in driving the curricular vision of the school. Participants consider the key principles of effective curriculum design and implementation.

They will consider how students learn, exploring the latest research in cognitive science and how this can support curriculum design and development. Participants will leave with a range of practical strategies and tools to ensure that the curriculum supports highly effective learning in their context.

· How do vision and values drive curriculum design and development?

· What are the key principles that underpin effective curriculum design?

· How do students learn and how can this influence curriculum design and implementation?

· What is the role of the leader in curricular design and development?

EVENTS CALENDAR

DESIGN THINKING PROCESS

Educators are designers who are daily designing learning programmes, creating schedules, and making the lessons that shape a student’s experience. Furthermore, driving much of the change in international schools today are its middle leaders. Exploring the process and skills of Design Thinking will maximise middle leader impact and improve their efficiency.

During this course, participants will develop knowledge, tools and skills from Design Thinking that are geared specifically for middle leader success as they face difficult, sticky problems in their own context.

Design of the Course

Progressive activities that develop real solutions for real problems in your classroom or in your school. Short learning modules that teach the design process, how to use it to lead change and related concepts from behavioural economics.

Key Questions

· What is Design Thinking as a change development process?

· What does thinking like a designer do to support quality leadership and positive change?

· What design terms and concepts support leadership in program development?

· What viewpoints and perspectives can be nurtured in a community to support change?

EVENTS CALENDAR

MANAGING AND EMBRACING CONFLICT

Being able to manage and embrace conflict effectively is an essential part of middle leadership if teams and individuals are to maintain a shared sense of purpose and direction. As a middle leader, one of the greatest challenges in managing and embracing conflict is managing yourself and making sure that communication is clear and effective.

During this course, participants learn to identify conflict and what their roles and responsibilities are within such a situation. They develop strategies to manage emotions, manage change and learn how to separate the personal from the professional. On a practical level, participants learn how to have difficult conversations and practise different techniques in a safe and supportive environment.

By the end of the course, participants will have a practical toolkit of strategies and protocols to manage and embrace conflict successfully in a range of contexts.

· Why does conflict occur and what is the role of the leader?

· How can leaders manage and embrace conflict within their team?

· How can successful leadership of change help leaders to navigate through conflict effectively?

· What strategies and approaches can leaders use to manage difficult conversations?

EVENTS CALENDAR

TEACHER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

We know that investing teacher quality improves learning, builds capacity and increases retention. These are only a few of the benefits.

This is an interactive course that gives middle leaders the knowledge and practical tools to lead teacher teams. Across the course, you will explore what effective teaching and learning looks like based on the latest research and literature. You will also learn how to use evaluation as a catalyst for high quality professional development at an individual and group level.

Throughout the sessions, we will look at different models, strategies and approaches for improving teacher quality with your own team. By the end of the course, participants leave fully equipped to lead Teacher Quality Improvement in their own setting.

Key questions

· What does research and literature indicate about what great teaching looks like?

· How can middle leaders evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in their teams?

· What are the most effective strategies and approaches for improving the quality of teaching and learning for individuals and teams?

· How can teacher leaders support the growth of the adults in their team and enable sustainable improvement and professional development?

EVENTS CALENDAR

THE CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP

In an organisation, leaders make the weather and create the culture. This shapes how the organisation works and feels. The Culture of Leadership is an exciting course that gets to the heart of this by focusing on international teacher leadership at the middle level, exploring the relationship between culture, context and leadership.During the course, participants explore critical aspects of the middle leader role and how their beliefs and values influence their practice. In addition, they will have the opportunity to build their leadership knowledge, understanding and skills order to strengthen their effectiveness and impact. By the end of the course, participants will have a strong understanding of why leadership matters and how they can shape the culture in their team. They will leave with a clear plan to assist them with the successful application of their learning. Key questions: · What does research claim about effective teacher leadership? · To what extent is leadership context driven? How does culture impact leadership? · How can a teacher leader develop the ability to lead effectively in different contexts? · What are beliefs and values about leadership and how does this impact leadership practices?

EVENTS CALENDAR

INSPIRING AND SUSTAINING DEIJ BREAKTHROUGHS

For the past two years, we have been witnessing a global awakening to a call for a more intentional focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). In the wake of the outcries for racial justice which reverberated around the world, many institutions indicated an intent to become places where those within their care can thrive with all aspects of their identity celebrated.

However, international education continues to face significant challenges in creating lasting systemic change. Middle Leaders are often at the forefront of observing and experiencing the myriad inequities that exist, such as the lack of affirmation of certain student identities within the school culture and curriculum, staffing barriers relative to educator backgrounds, and more. How might we equip ourselves and our institutions to break through these challenges?

Join this course to explore these themes and co-create actions that lead to breakthroughs which will enable yourself, your institutions, and the international education community to flourish.

Key questions

· What systemic inequities do our fears protect and how can we interrupt them?

· How do we support those within our care to experience breakthroughs in order to flourish?

· How might we break through the systemic barriers to our own growth as middle leaders?

· What can we do as middle leaders to collectively inspire tangible change towards diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the international school ecosystem?

EVENTS CALENDAR

UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS

Middle Leader Certificate: Assessment & Leadership: 20 & 21 April 2023

20 April @ 09:00 - 14:00 BST £240 – £300

Middle Leader Certificate: Curricular Design & Leadership: 02, 09, 16, & 23 May 2023

2 May @ 15:00 - 17:00 BST £240 – £300

Middle Leader Certificate: Managing & Embracing Conflict: 25 & 26 May

25 May @ 09:00 - 26 May @ 14:00 BST £240 – £300

ECIS Middle Leader Symposium: 03-07 July

3 July @ 08:00 - 7 July @ 17:00 BST £550 – £990 - BEPS International School

LEARN MORE

MIDDLE LEADER CAFÉ: MONTHLY VIA ZOOM

The objective is to highlight how ECIS promotes continuous Middle Leader professional development by creating a platform that is:

Based on the needs of Middle Leaders
Encourages collaboration with international colleagues to develop a network of Middle Leaders
Relevant to the roles and responsibilities of Middle Leaders
Applicable to impact teacher practice and student learning
Sustained overtime recognizing that significant shifts in practice take considerable time and work

Check our events page for the next Middle Leader Café, we’d love to see you there!

WATCH OUR PREVIOUS SESSIONS ON CATCH-UP VIA OUR YOUTUBE PLAYLIST.

FACILITATORS

Helen Morgan
Training, Coaching, & Consultancy
U.K.

Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini
Lead Facilitator & Trainer
ECIS

Jimena Zalba
Primary Principal
International School of Belgrade

Nunana Nyomi
University Advisor/DEIJ Coordinator
Leysin American School

Cindy Gause Vega
Elementary Principal
International School of Prague

PRICING

PLEASE NOTE: Prices are for virtual events. Rates will change as and when face-to-face events resume.

NON-ECIS MEMBER

£300

ECIS LEVEL 1 MEMBER

£270

ECIS LEVEL 2 MEMBER

£255

ECIS LEVEL 3 MEMBER

£240

Interested in taking/ hosting a course not currently listed? Contact events@ecis.org

PARTNERSHIPS

Professional learning partnerships make middle leader development financially accessible, with regular scheduling of training, maximising institutional planning for impact. The Association of German International Schools (AGIS) represents and supports the educational and public interest of member schools and their communities by promoting and improving international education. We are proud to partner with AGIS with Middle Leader Courses hosted in Germany.

Member School Image: Westminster Academy, London