More than 130 educators, school board members, parents and community people turned out for two days of focused work on “Keeping the Public in Public Education” and on issues unique to their respective school districts during the 13th annual Leadership Retreat sponsored by the Consortium.

Phillip Boyle, Ph.D., president of Leading and Governing Associates, Inc., whose upcoming book is titled “Passionate About Public Schools” served as facilitator and lead selected portions of the program. Click here to access the PowerPoint presentations Dr. Boyle used at the Retreat.

 “We designed the retreat to dig deep and understand all the issues that affect our success in building support and ownership for public education in our communities,” Dr. Croushore said, adding, “We looked at the role each person in a school district plays in either making or breaking the school-community relationship.”

As in previous years, the retreat was planned for participation by team. But in a break with past practice, the Consortium did not make the Carmen A. Sarnicola Creative and Collaborative Leadership Award ($10,000) to a single team at the concluding conference session. The award is named for the late Dr. Sarnicola, who was co-executive director of the organization at the time of his death in February of 1999.


Consortium Executive Director Linda L. Croushore, at right above, issued both to the 10 established Leadership Design Teams participating in the Consortium’s annual Leadership Retreat. The check is for $5,000. The challenge to qualify for it is to develop a strategy, by May 19, to reach the youngest children in the community, those aged 0-3 years, with a program designed to increase learning and literacy readiness.

Facilitator Phil Boyle worked with groups and individuals during the retreat.




Team work sessions (Duquesne team above and Yough team below) are a major feature of the retreat each year.


Vince Natale, left, and Irvin Williams are members of the Steel Valley team.

Instead, Dr. Croushore promised $5,000 to each of the 10 established Leadership Design Teams attending – if they meet the challenge of devising a brief but focused strategy to reach the youngest children in their school communities, those aged 0-3 years. This can be a new program or it can be a matter of reaching out and establishing partnerships with organizations that already have programs serving these youngsters and their families.

The strategy is due in writing by May 19, 2006.

That strategy must incorporate the use of “A Guide to Your Child’s Literacy,” developed as part of the Consortium’s Literacy for Life initiative. It is a practical, easy-to-use book for parents and/or other caregivers, filled with activities designed to help children learn and grow (for birth through age 8).

Next year, at the 2007 Leadership Retreat, teams will be asked to share their experiences in meeting this challenge. “If we want children to come to school ready to learn, it is essential that we begin preparing them for success in the early years,” Dr. Croushore said, adding, “We know that the research has shown, again and again, the positive impact of early childhood learning activities.”

Design Teams  have district-wide representation. Another integral component of the process – Building Leadership Teams – have peer-selected members and operate within the individual buildings. Both groups report to each other; they meet on a regular basis. “Open communication lines are key to the success of the work,” Dr. Croushore said, adding: 

 “The team gives school board members the best thinking from those on the front lines. It lets the superintendent know what’s going on in the buildings. It encourages the support staff to think about how its work relates to the learning environment....It is an inclusive group, not an exclusive one.”

Bentworth Superintendent Paul Rach, right, talks with John Cattaneo of Ringgold School District.


Consortium Board President James Lenkner, left, takes a break with Colleen Fedor and Superintendent Alex Warren, both of Steel Valley School District.


Jolene Hough, left, and Valerie Kovach of Brownsville Area School District talk with Ginny Dunsavage of the Consortium, at right

.