Women in Educational Leadership Symposium 2026 - Waves of Wisdom Sessions

In this interactive session, participants will have an opportunity to dive deeper into the New School Leadership Architecture. After a deep-dive into the four levels and the Unique Leadership Mission of each, participants will put the framework into practice.

As we dive in, think of persuasion not a battle of facts, but as riding the wave of your narrative. Join Jill Slye for a dynamic and interactive session, where you'll explore, practice, and celebrate the true power of persuasion through hands-on exercises and storytelling in action.

In many cultures, leadership is often framed in masculine terms such as 'decisive, competitive, and ambitious' creating challenges for women and others who identifies diverge from this stereotype. This session addresses the complexities of leading authentically in a landscape that can misinterpret intentions and overlook contributions.

Women make up the majority of the K-12 workforce, but less than a third of district superintendents are women. This session shares the research behind Women Leading Ed, highlighting the structural barriers, leadership strength's, and unique challenges facing women leaders today.

When we move to a new leadership level, our new role isn't just an extension of our previous leadership - the same thing we've done well, just bigger and broader. Moving to a new leadership level requires us to embrace a new leadership mission - to prioritize new goals, build or deploy new skills, spend our time differently, and embrace a new professional identity. It is easy to miss the shift, to stay in our comfort zone, to keep doing what we've always done. This session will offer opportunities for self-reflection and practice and participants will walk away with practical tools they can apply tomorrow.

As we dive in, think of persuasion not a battle of facts, but as riding the wave of your narrative. Join Jill Slye for a dynamic and interactive session, where you'll explore, practice, and celebrate the true power of persuasion through hands-on exercises and storytelling in action..

Mentorship helps leaders grow. Sponsorship helps them advance. This interactive session introduces the Women Leading Ed 'Beyond Mentoring' resources framework and breaks down what effective sponsorship looks like in education systems.

Change is vital for organizational survival and growth, but individuals react to it in varied ways. As a leader, understanding these reactions is crucial for effectively guiding others through transitions. In this session, you will first clarify your own response to change using the Communication Styles diagnostic.