Specialized Trainings 
Topic  Date  Description 

Dale Carnegie’s ​How to Win Friends  May 2018  During this training, Dale Carnegie’s fundamental 
and Influence People  techniques in handling people, making them like you, 
and winning people to your way of thinking were 
explored. In addition, Leadership strategies for 
changing the mindset of others without causing offense 
or arousing resentment were highlighted also. 

Stephen Covey’s ​Seven Habits of  May 2018  Based on the text, ​The Seven Habits of Highly Effective 
Highly Effective People  People,​ Dr. Bonnie Fusarelli and cohort members 
examined Stephen Covey’s seven principles for 
improving one’s personal and professional life.  

Flipped Classroom  May 2018  Dr. Lodge McCammon presented his “Flipped 
Classroom” model. This model encouraged teacher 
leaders to turn live lectures into captivating video 
lectures, which saves time and allows teachers to 
engage students in meaningful content. 

Understanding by Design  June 2018  In Understanding by Design training, Dr. Brenda 

Champion introduced UbD as a framework for creating 
curriculum based on the following tenets: establishing 
desired results, determining acceptable forms of 
evidence, and creating effective learning experiences. 

Literacy  June 2018  In this training, Dr. Bryan Brander shared 

research-based strategies and best practices for 
teaching students with Dyslexia, ADHD, and other 
specific learning disabilities that impact reading and 
writing. In addition, Dr. Brander stressed the importance 
of implementing a schoolwide literacy plan and 
applying UDL strategies to continuously produce 
student growth and achievement.  

Crucial Conversations  June 2018  Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al 
Switzler offer techniques that create a safe space for 
crucial conversations when opinions differ, stakes are 
raised, and emotions are high. 

Restorative Discipline  June 2018  During this training, school leaders learned discipline 
practices that focus less on punitive consequences and 
more on teaching students how to acknowledge the 
harm they’ve done and take responsibility for repairing 
the harm. 

Poverty  June 2018  This training provided impactful pedagogy that gave 
participants a clear understanding of the characteristics 
of students and families who live in poverty. Guidelines 
from the research-based text, ​High Poverty High 
Performing Schools​ to develop practical and proven 
strategies for individual schools will help school leaders 
effectively meet the unique needs of this growing 
population in our communities. 
 
Teach Like a Champion and First Days  July 2018  During “Teach Like a Champion” and “First Days of 
of School  School” training, cohort members identified and 
discussed Lemov’s 62 refining techniques and Wong’s 
practical strategies for strengthening classroom 
instruction, setting consistent procedures, enhancing 
student engagement, and establishing a positive school 
culture. 

BB&T Leadership Training  July 2018  BB&T Leadership training supplied participants with the 
tools needed to identify and analyze their personality 
strengths, beliefs, and triggers. This framework helps 
individuals replace ineffective beliefs, behaviors, and 
emotions with strategies that lead to success.  

Madeline Hunter’s Mastery Teaching  July 2018  DMadeline Hunter’s time-proven lesson planning 
framework forms the basis of effective instruction that 
is needed to build upon with advanced techniques to 
address varied student needs.  

Emotional Intelligence and  July 2018  Emotional Intelligence and Myers-Briggs training focus 
Myers-Briggs  on how one balances self-regulation and social skills 
and adjusts how one sees the world through the eyes 
of others.  

Make it Stick  July 2018  Peter Brown and his co-authors use brain research to 
explain what’s wrong with the ways we have been 
taught to learn and share strategies that are most 
effective for making information stick.  

Racial Equity Institute  August  The Measuring Racial Equity: A Groundwater Approach 
2018  presentation by REI engages its participants in data 
proving that racial inequity looks the same across 
systems, socio-economic differences do not explain the 
racial inequity, and that systems contribute significantly 
to disparities. The presentation makes the participants 
consider whether we are spending our time focusing on 
fixing the fish or if we are digging deeper and fixing the 
water.  

Equity and Social Justice Retreat  September  The Franklinton Center at Bricks, a former slave 
2018 and  plantation that eventually became one of the first 
March 2019  accredited schools for African Americans in the South, 
conducts retreats focused on developing an 
understanding of social justice and equity in the United 
States.  

The Ron Clark Academy  October  During our 2-day visit to the Ron Clark Academy, Ron 
2018  Clark and his amazing RCA staff shared progressive and 
innovative strategies they use to engage and motivate 
their students, close learning gaps, reduce behavior 
issues, provide students with a high quality global 
education, and enhance their leadership skills. 

Digital Storytelling  November  A powerful retreat that allowed all principal fellows to 
2018  share their life stories and explain how those 
experiences helped place us on the path of leadership 
and excellence. 
 
Maxwell Training  February  During this training, Principal Ruth Steidinger led 
2019  participants through focused on learning our purpose 
and why for doing the work that we do and how can 
we help others connect back to their why? We 
discussed the power of humility when telling our own 
story.  

LGBTQ Training  April 2019  Equity issues impact students beyond race. This 
training focused on analyzing current policies that 
affect LGBTQ students. We also discussed the power of 
language when working with all students.  

Little Bites Time Management  May 2019  Organization and time management consultant, Kelly 
Training  Perin shared a variety of organizational tools that will 
  help school leaders use their time more effectively and 
prioritize daily and weekly tasks. 

NC School Improvement Project  June 2019  This two-day training provided aspiring administrators 
  with an overview of the following courses: Math 
Foundations, Reading Research to Classroom Practice, 
Co-Teaching, and All Leaders Understand and 
Collaborate to Support Evidence-Based Practices.  

American Enterprise Institute   June 2019  This two and a half day retreat at the American 
Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. consisted of a 
live lecture by Dr. Rick Hess, the author of Cage-Busting 
Leadership on policy and why it exists. In addition, 
various influential leaders participated on panels and 
shared their views and opinions on the current and 
future state of education and factors that drive federal 
and state policies. 

4 Disciplines of Execution   July 2019  Principal, Muriel Summers led participants through a 
two-day training that focused on the skill set and 
mindset school leaders need to develop, to 
successfully lead a school. This training was based on 
the values of Stephen and Franklin Covey and the text, 
The 4 Disciplines of Execution. 

WCPSS Student Due Process  August  During this half day training, middle and high school 
Professional Learning  2019  principals, assistant principals, and principal residents 
reviewed security updates, district discipline data, 
recent changes to district-wide discipline policies, and 
equitable practices when handling behavior issues. 

LEA Training for Wake Interns  December  This half day training provided Wake administrative interns
2019  with an overview of the role and responsibilities of an LEA
and strategies for effectively supporting LEA
representatives in conducting compliant IEP meetings.  

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training  December  The purpose of this training was to teach WCPSS 
for Wake Administrative Interns  2019  principal residents non-aggressive, de-escalation 
strategies to use when interacting with students in 
difficult or violent situations.