A Leadership for Education Achievement in Districts (LEAD) grant has been awarded to Eugene School District 4J in Eugene, Oregon. It is designed to promote educational leadership at the community level. It is part of an initiative of The Wallace Foundation, with the goal of developing effective education leadership, especially among principals and superintendents, to improve student learning.

LEAD districts form a learning network to examine the effects of leadership on learning, analyze existing obstacles and explore strategic interventions that can, over time, produce new policies and practices that support better student achievement. Specifically, LEAD districts are:

• working with states to implement policies affecting leadership, from selection and certification to professional learning and governance.
• working with school boards to define policies in such areas as recruitment, retention, evaluation, incentives and contracts.
• working with universities to influence the training and selection of aspiring leaders, as well as with local business leaders, community-based organizations, and parents.
• analyzing performance data and assess academic programs and the quality of classroom/school practice.
• allocating human, financial and intellectual resources in line with leadership and learning goals.
• defining student learning as the district’s primary priority.
• creating systems so leaders can review student performance against standards.

For program focus and plans in the district, please see:

2005-06 4J Strategic Through-Line: Breakthrough Ideas

2005-06: 4J Goals, Strategies & Action Plan

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Strengthening educational leadership to improve student learning:

The grant project will ensure that:

1) New administrators are of the highest caliber and broadest representation.
2) Current administrators have the skills to improve student learning.
3) Support structures and policies strengthen leadership and student learning.

This project will empower Eugene's administrators and aspiring administrators to ensure that every student is learning.

Strategies - specific actions towards reaching the goals:

• Renew the pool of high quality administrators, more flexible licensure process, administrative licensure cohort group, apprentice leader positions, and an outsanding teacher nomination system.
• Increase the percentage of minority administrators and diversity in the candidate pool.
• Provide systemic support for new and aspiring administrators through mentors.
• Increase involvement of minority, ESL, and disadvantaged families.
• Develop board and community support and understanding of education leadership.
• Strengthen accountability systems through data interpretation, school improvement plans, annual reports to the Board and the Equity Committee, and an improved student information system.
• Institute flexible transfer policies and procedures through an asset model of administrator transfer.
• Increase the coordination of social and educations services by networking with local services.
• Improve administrator evaluation system.
• Develop regional learning communities centered on educational leadership.