Leadership Improvement
Unlock your potential with professional development that drives positive change across your whole school community.
Don’t lead alone. Circles are better than rows.
The Leadership Circle program—designed for superintendents, executive teams, and principals, offers leaders a safe space for innovative learning, peer collaboration, dynamic content, and on-demand support, all aligned to real leadership challenges.
- AASA and Cognia, with their combined history and credibility, have announced a partnership and remain dedicated to advancing education through a continued focus on leadership, school evaluation, and improvement.
- Leaders need trusted peers to process, debrief, problem-solve, and find support during tough times.
- The Leadership Circle connects leaders facing similar challenges, enabling them to tap into collective wisdom through focused discussions and shared high-quality content, driving action on unprecedented issues.
Elevate your impact with Leadership Circle
A cohort-based approach to navigating challenges and opportunities
Education leaders are charged with anticipating future challenges while addressing today’s roadblocks. Their decisions and actions have far-reaching influence—on communities, teachers, and, most importantly, learners.
Our Leadership Circle program offers multiple opportunities for leaders to engage with peers, enhance skills, and stay current with emerging trends. Using a cohort-based approach, participants are grouped with leaders in similar roles and school types and guided through everyday problems by an experienced Cognia ambassador.
Just-in-time support to meet the needs of leaders
Solution Circles
Real-time collaboration with peers to tackle urgent challenges
Leader Chats
Weekly podcast with top education and business leaders
Think Tanks
Large group discussion of trending complex issues
Ambassador Support
Cohort guidance by experienced education leaders
Private Online Community
Online platform where cohorts explore content and share ideas
In-person Summits
Multi-day, targeted learning in small group gatherings
Engage, grow, and learn—around the clock and across the country
Launch a Solution Circle
It’s simple to circle up with your peers: Join school leaders from around the country to find a solution. Read the SmartBrief article.
Engage in our Online Community
Members access all community content from one site. Ask questions, post your thoughts, and share ideas with your peers.
Join In-person Summits
Gain fresh perspective and invest in professional learning. All participants of our inaugural summit reported it met their professional development needs.
Attend Leader Chat with Dr. Jeff Rose
Listen as Dr. Rose chats with prominent leaders to address pressing issues. Podcasts have featured gurus like Daniel Pink and Robert Marzano.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Leadership Circle benefit superintendents and leaders facing today's challenges?
The Leadership Circle provides superintendents with a supportive network where they can connect with peers, access expert advice, and tackle leadership challenges in real-time. Through exclusive programs like Solution Circles and Think Tanks, members receive targeted guidance on pressing issues, enabling them to make informed decisions and lead with confidence in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
How will Leadership Circle help me?
Joining the Leadership Circle will refine your leadership skills, boost confidence, alleviate isolation, and cultivate a valuable professional network. You’ll become part of a community of like-minded peers who understand and can support you through daily, often time-sensitive, challenges.
How is Leadership Circle different from other professional development for superintendents and principals?
Successful leadership development requires that we move away from traditional “sit-and-get” conferences and move toward the kind of interactive, high-impact professional development Cognia offers. Solution Circles foster collaborative learning through problem solving; Think Tanks offer a forum to address emerging educational trends. An annual summit facilitates guided discussions on leadership and education trends with peers and keynote experts.
What are the most pressing issues school leaders face today?
School leaders cite diverse issues such as student discipline, governance challenges and board management, budget shortfalls and contractual obligations, decreased student enrollment and teacher shortages, attendance issues, student safety, and community engagement. Leaders can find support for these topics and more through the Leadership Circle as well as several learning labs in the Cognia Learning Community.