Professional Learning Series
2024-2025 Professional Learning Series
Join the OLAC team for a series of free professional learning sessions designed to provide educators with the structures and resources necessary to develop and support effective leadership at every level. Explore OLAC’s latest online learning tools, including modules, webinars, videos, podcast episodes, and more to support educators as they work to embed essential leadership practices at every level of a school system. Remember, all resources are free, and you can earn credit.
Using OLAC’s Assessment Tools to Support School Progress
August 9, 9-10:30 a.m.
Presenters: Mike Trego, Jim Gay, and Karel Oxley, Ohio Leadership Advisory Council Just as districts measure the impact of student performance, it is equally important for districts and buildings to assess the impact of their instructional and organizational programs, strategies, and practices. For those programs and strategies that are having a positive impact in the district or building, it is also essential to determine how to sustain that work for long-term success. The Ohio Leadership Advisory Council has developed a variety of assessment tools to help district and building teams to measure a district’s progress toward providing high-quality instructional and organizational leadership and build capacity for sustainability across a range of specific organizational and contextual factors.
This hands-on session will explore the Systemic Improvement Practices Review (SIPR), Ohio Sustainability Assessment Tool (OSAT), and Building Leadership Team Assessment Tool (BLT). Time will be allotted for participants to view each tool and set up test assessments for your teams.
Four-Part Series: Have You Looked at the Data?
August 14, September 6, October 9 & 29, 9-10:30 a.m. (all sessions)
Presenters: Carrie Sanchez, Director of Leadership & Learning, North Point Educational Service Center
School leaders have a plethora of data resources to collect and examine—but after you HAVE the data, what do you DO with it? In this four-part series, Carrie Sanchez will lead building principals through the process of locating the data, analyzing the data, and most importantly using the data to inform decision and classroom instruction. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with Carrie and learn about OLAC resources available to support their work.
- Register: August 14: Using Data to Address Absenteeism
- Register: September 6: Using Data in the Goal Setting Process
- Register: October 9: Using Data to Understand the EVAAS platform for School Leaders and Building Decisions
- Register: October 29: Using Data to Inform Instructional Decision Making with EVAAS
Five-Part Series: OTES Coaching
August 23, September 27, October 24, November 22 & December 12, 10-10:45 a.m. (all sessions)
Presenters: Carrie Sanchez, Director of Leadership & Learning, North Point Educational Service Center
OTES can be an incredibly impactful tool for improving professional practice and student achievement when used in meaningful ways. In this five-part series, each episode includes strategic planning tools and tactical steps for success. Participants can ask questions throughout the sessions and take away tools to implement immediately.
- Register: August 23: PGPs & Goal Setting
- Register: September 27: Pre-Conf & Scheduling
- Register: October 24: Efficiency & Reducing HOMEwork
- Register: November 22: Walk-through’s & Post-Conferences
- Register: December 12: Making OTES Meaningful to Teachers
Two-Part Series: The Things They Did Not Teach You In Principal School
August 28 & September 18, 9-10:30 a.m. (all sessions)
Presenters: Carrie Sanchez, Director of Leadership & Learning, North Point Educational Service Center
Oftentimes, school principals find themselves playing defense more than they play offense when it comes to situations, tasks, mandates, and the work required to lead a school. In this two-part series, veteran school administrator Carrie Sanchez will walk principals through the planning and strategies needed to have a successful school year—strategies to prepare, not react. Strategies to help principals feel empowered in a role that can often feel overwhelming. Designed for new and experienced school leaders, discover resources available through OLAC that will support, enlighten, and inspire.
Register: August 28: The Things They Did Not Teach You In Principal School
Register: September 18: The Things They Did Not Teach You In Principal School
Become an OLAC Facilitator
September 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Presenters: Ohio Leadership Advisory Council Team
From the beginning, the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council’s goal has been to provide educators – no matter their role – with the structures and resources they need to develop shared and effective leadership at every level. OLAC is proud to offer free resources to support your personal or team’s professional learning. By becoming a certified OLAC facilitator, you will be able to share these resources with others and demonstrate how to integrate them into their leadership and instructional practices. Become familiar with and gain working knowledge of:
- The OLAC web platform, including new features and enhanced functionality
- How to use module, webinar, podcast, and video content to enhance the effectiveness of district and building leadership teams and teacher-based teams (DLTs, BLTs, TBTs)
- Ohio Principal Evaluation System (OPES) Crosswalk—Lead superintendents/principals through the Principal Crosswalk, which aligns relevant OLAC modules, webinars, podcasts, and videos to the Ohio Principal Standards
- Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) Crosswalk—Lead principals/teachers through the Teacher Crosswalk, which aligns relevant OLAC modules, webinars, podcasts, and videos to the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession
- How to support superintendents, principals, and teachers in developing a professional growth plan
- Assessment tools—Become familiar with OLAC assessment tools, including the Systemic Improvement Practices Review, an online team assessment designed for DLTs; Ohio Sustainability Assessment Tool; and Building Leadership Team Assessment Tool
- Credit options—Become familiar with templates for workshop offerings using OLAC modules that can be presented to colleges and universities for consideration for college credit. Facilitators will also become familiar with LPDC credit options available through the OLAC website.
Register: Become an OLAC Facilitator
Building a Data-Positive School: Strategies for Informed Decision-Making
September 25, 9-10:30 a.m.
Presenters: Jessica Lane, Founder, Data-Informed Impact
Transform your school through establishing a positive culture where data is used effectively to make informed decisions. Gain a toolbox of strategies to align data with school goals and initiatives, create clear visualizations, acknowledge the context surrounding data, and promote a non-judgmental, curious approach to using data. By fostering this environment, you will empower your staff to collaborate on data, leading to improved student outcomes and a stronger, more positive school-wide culture.
Register: Building a Data-Positive School: Strategies for Informed Decision-Making
Ohio’s School Report Cards: Frequently Asked Report Card Questions
October 16, 9-10:30 a.m.
Presenters: Andrea Spitnale, Office of Accountability, Ohio Department of Education & Workforce
Join the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce’s Office of Accountability for an overview of the 2024 Ohio School Report Cards and then take a deep dive into the most frequently asked questions from the field. The presenter will also review complex business rules and demonstrate where to find frequently requested data and provide clarity on how to navigate high-interest and complex sections of the Ohio School Report Cards.
Register: Ohio’s School Report Cards: Frequently Asked Report Card Questions
Two-Part Series: Critical Care for Educators
October 17 & February 12, 9-10:30 a.m. (all sessions)
Presenters: Carrie Sanchez, Director of Leadership & Learning, North Point Educational Service Center
October 17: Educator work is challenging, rewarding, and exhausting. How do we better care for our educators? How do we support their work, nurture their growth, AND care for them as people who need compassion and empathy? In this session, school leaders will learn to understand the nuances of the various generations of employees and how to meet their needs in the classroom and out.
Register: October 17: Critical Care for Educators
February 12: It is one thing to care for your people, but who cares for the leaders? Mere survival should not be indicative of success. In this session, school leaders will learn how to preserve their own passion, as well as their own well-being. Longevity is more than self-care—it is rooted in a deep understanding and practice of disciplined behaviors that support. Join this community of support, learn from each other, and leave prepared to tackle the challenges that await.
Register: February 12: Critical Care for Educators