Teachers and Staff Gear Up for New School Year with LEAD University
While students return from summer break on August 8th, the entire LEAD faculty and staff go back to campus in July to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Faculty and staff participate in a 5-week-long professional development program called LEAD University, or LEAD U for short. The program introduces new teachers and staff to LEAD’s academic and instructional model while offering on-going professional development and support to our returning teachers and staff.
LEAD U is also an opportunity for faculty and staff to build community and relationships in the individual schools and across the network.
“I don’t know of many schools or networks that offer all teachers and staff members, new and returning, such a robust professional development program,” said Mary Laurens Minch, Chief Academic Officer. “Our academic team works throughout the year with school-based instructional leaders as well as outside experts on designing meaningful, actionable professional development that in turn drives instructional excellence in our schools.”
LEAD Public Schools welcomed more than 100 new staff members to the network for the 2022-2023 school year. While LEAD is not immune to the nationwide teacher shortage, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Nic Frank, reports that LEAD is very proud of the team they have assembled.
“Close to 80% of teachers are returning for this school year, and we welcomed more than 100 new staff members to the network,” said Frank. “These numbers show that while there may be a shortage of teachers, people are coming into and staying in the profession.”
As the LEAD team gears up for another great school year, we hope students and families are enjoying the final weeks of summer break and will return to campus refreshed and ready to learn.
“We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to continuing our work with some of Nashville’s most vulnerable and students and families in need. As always, our families can expect academic excellence, cultural sensitivity and robust family engagement events throughout the school year,” LaVoe Mulgrew, Head of Schools.
