LM Nov-Dec 2025

Professional Learning

Dr. Dawn Bridges IASA Associate Director of Professional Learning

’Tis the Season for Reflection: Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time for Leaders to Reinvest in Themselves

Lane Freeman, Director of Online Learning for the North Carolina Community College System and AI expert, will be the presenter. In this interactive session, participants will explore how educational leaders can guide AI adoption with clarity and purpose—moving beyond curiosity to intentional, ethical use. IASA is offering this administrator academy on April 30. The redesigned virtual academy builds foundational AI knowledge and equips district leaders with strategies to integrate AI ethically, efficiently, and effectively into their leadership practice. Women in Leadership: Leading with Courage and Connection IASA has redesigned our WIL administrator academy. The new session, grounded in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and Strong Ground: A Courage-Building Workbook , supports educational leaders in exploring what it means to lead with vulnerability, trust, and purpose. These represent just a few of the professional learning opportunities IASA offers throughout the year. Visit the Professional Learning Catalog to explore the full calendar of programs designed to support your growth as a leader. A Season to Reset. A Year to Grow. As you enter this holiday season, may you find moments of rest, renewal, and reflection. Investing in your own growth is one of the strongest commitments you can make—to yourself, your team, and the students you serve. IASA looks forward to partnering with you in 2026 as you continue your leadership journey with clarity, courage, and purpose. Click here to learn more and register. Introduction of AI to District Leaders

As school and district leaders, we spend our days navigating complexity, supporting our teams, and making decisions that shape the lives of students. The holiday season offers a rare and welcome pause—a moment to step back from the daily pace and reflect not just on the work we do, but on who we are becoming as leaders. This season invites us to slow down and consider: • What did I learn about leadership this year? • Where have I grown—and where do I still want to grow? • How can I enter the new year with greater clarity, purpose, and energy? Reflection is not a luxury; it’s an essential leadership practice. And pairing reflection with purposeful learning allows us to reset, refocus, and lead with renewed strength. IASA: Your Partner in Professional Growth IASA stands ready to support your learning journey in the new year, offering pathways that meet leaders where they are and move them forward with intention. Here are a few opportunities to consider: Leading Forward: A Visioning Workshop for Early-Career Superintendents IASA will introduce this workshop in the coming weeks, with the goal of holding the first session in late April. Through guided facilitation, collaborative dialogue, and structured visioning exercises, first through third-year superintendents will explore where they want to take their district in the year ahead— clarifying priorities, aligning purpose, and shaping a leadership plan that connects vision to action. Details and registration coming soon. Leading a Future-Focused School System Through Artificial Intelligence In February, IASA continues our focus on AI in education with three workshops offered in each Super Region. Dr.

20 LM Nov–Dec 2025