CTN hosted a virtual Leadership Fellows Training presented by Dr. Chavez and Allegra Villarreal on June 6. The training began with Allegra going over the objectives of the day. She then led an icebreaker to allow the group to begin building community. Next Dr. Chavez reviewed the history, mission, and vision of CTN and how leadership fellows contribute to scaling the program and amplifying the mission. The session that followed looked at the affordances and constraints of non-profit organizations, how these look within CTN and broader educational reform contexts, and the opportunities for educators to develop skills and networks through contracting and consultancy work.

After a break, Allegra led a session titled “Coaching for Excellence and Equity. Participants explored the crucial role peer mentors play in helping teachers develop and deepen their practice and the ways in which CTN consultants engage in this work during workshops and site visits. In the next session “Leadership Styles and Stories” led by Allegra, participants discussed their personal stories, histories, and backgrounds and how these influence how they coach, facilitate and engage in their work.

After lunch participants shared their leadership stories. The next session “Facilitating Transformative Sessions for Adult Learners” led by Allegra looked at how to best engage fellow educators, design sessions and/or internalize the content of others. Juan Higa led the final session of the training titled “Getting to the Nitty Gritty: Forms, Payments, and Systems.” He showed participants how to submit timesheets, invoices, receipts, and travel documents. The day ended with a reflection of the ways participants want to engage and answering any questions.

The 2022 Catch the Next Leadership Fellows are Ronald Perez, PAC; Antonio Garza, PAC; Helen Dailey, ACC; Vidal Almanza, ACC; Karen Quiroz, SWTJC; Richard Armenta, CTN; and Jon Herrin, CTN.