• LEADERSHIP DEFINITION

    A framework for growing leaders at every level on every campus and across every department.

    BACKGROUND

    In Spring ISD, we believe every employee can be a leader, regardless of role or title. This guiding principle is at the core of everything we do in the district and has developed as part of our ongoing work with the Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to leadership development as a way to improve the quality of public schools across Texas.

    In 2019, Spring ISD was selected by the Holdsworth Center to take part in its  five-year program to strengthen our leadership and talent development systems. Since then, much work has been done, including the development of our Leadership Definition, unique to Spring ISD. The goal of this Leadership Definition is to give every employee a clear blueprint for success as we all look for ways to grow and develop professionally in Spring ISD.

    In addition, our Leadership Definition framework includes other important initiatives to help our employees fulfill their potential, including our Leadership Academy and our Strategic Compensation program for campus-based staff.

    A FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

    Spring ISD has a strong set of core values that have helped guide our work since 2015. These core values are not changing and will continue to provide the framework for how we interact with each other, as well as our students and families. To review:

    • We base our decisions on what is best for our students.
    • We strive for excellence in all we do.
    • We build trust through integrity and lead by example. 
    • We communicate openly. 
    • We value diversity and treat everyone with dignity and respect. 
    • We win as a team.

    Our new Leadership Definition is designed to align our work to our core values by giving us the specific behaviors that we can use daily in our positions for success. Our goal is simple: Ensure excellent, equitable outcomes for all students as we create a school district where every employee is dedicated to making Spring ISD a district of choice for our families and staff. 

    CORE COMPETENCIES TO GUIDE OUR WORK

    Each of the three core competencies in the Leadership Definition framework — Outcome-Driven, Service-Oriented and Relationship-Centered — is defined by four critical behaviors. To better understand how to put the behaviors into practice, there are specific action steps that employees can take to lead and influence others in a positive way. Spend some time clicking on the competencies below and exploring how they apply to your work and responsibilities. 

      Outcome-Driven

      • What is Outcome-Driven?

        In Spring ISD, we want all employees to be Outcome-Driven so we can ensure the best results possible for all of  our students. 

        Under Outcome-Driven, there are four key behaviors that apply to all employees. They are: Student-Focused, Data-Driven, Manages Change and Continuously Grows. We’ve created a video to help showcase these behaviors in action. You’ll see that any employee can be Outcome-Driven, whether they are a Child Nutrition worker, bus driver, teacher or principal. 

        The key to being an Outcome-Driven employee is to focus on how your work supports students in a positive way. For example, we know how important it is for bus drivers to get our students to school each day safely and on-time so they can be successful in their learning. This also applies to our Child Nutrition workers who fuel learning with healthy, nutritious meals, and our custodians, who create a safe environment for working and learning.

        Spend a few minutes watching this video and you’ll see how important it is for all of us to support our students by being Outcome-Driven employees. Then look at the different action steps you can use daily as you strive to excel and grow in your role.  

        STUDENT-FOCUSED DATA-DRIVEN MANAGES CHANGE CONTINUOUSLY GROWS

        Delivers positive, equitable outcomes for students

        Uses data, research-based strategies and equity to drive decisions

        Adapts to and effectively supports others through change

        Learns and improves through feedback, professional development and self reflection

      Service-Oriented

      • What is Service-Oriented?

        In Spring ISD, we want all employees to be Service-Oriented  so we can ensure the best results possible for all of  our students. 

        Under Service-Oriented, there are four key behaviors that apply to all employees. They are: Communicates Effectively, Team-Focused, Empowers Others and Celebrates Success. We’ve created a video to help showcase these behaviors in action. You’ll see that any employee can be Service-Oriented, no matter their role. 

        The key to being a Service-Oriented employee is to focus on how you can develop, support, empower and celebrate others so they can be successful on behalf of our district and students. 

        Spend a few minutes watching this video and you’ll see how important it is for all of us to be  Service-Oriented employees. Then look at the different action steps you can use daily as you strive to excel and grow in your role.  

        COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY TEAM-FOCUSED EMPOWERS OTHERS CELEBRATES SUCCESS

        Actively listens; responds and shares information in a thoughtful and timely manner

        Promotes shared accountability

        Develops and supports leadership in others

        Encourages and praises individual and team progress

      Relationship-Centered

      • What is Relationship-Centered?

        In Spring ISD, we want all employees to be Relationship-Centered so we can ensure the best results possible for all of our students. Under Relationship-Centered, there are four key behaviors that apply to all employees. They are: Builds Trust, Collaborates, Embodies Integrity and Shows Compassion. We’ve created a video to help showcase these behaviors in action, no matter your job title. The key to being a Relationship-Centered employee is to put others at the focus of everything you do. By building strong relationships with those around you, you’ll help create an environment of trust and inclusivity that will ensure everyone feels welcome in our district.

        Spend a few minutes watching this video and you’ll see how important it is for all of us to be Relationship-Centered employees. Then look at the different action steps you can use daily as you strive to grow and excel in your role.

        BUILDS TRUST COLLABORATES EMBODIES INTEGRITY SHOWS COMPASSION

        Nurtures strong and trusting relationships with all stakeholders

        Builds a collaborative and inclusive culture

        Demonstrates honesty and ethics in all interactions

        Responds to the needs of others with empathy and understanding

      • LEARN MORE ABOUT LEADERSHIP AT EVERY LEVEL
        Download

        You can also download the entire campus or central office one-pagers here.

        Every superintendent was once a principal. Every principal was once an assistant principal, and every assistant principal was once a teacher. District support roles follow a similar path to leadership where employees often start out by managing their own work, and then progress to managing others and then managing other managers and even sometimes whole departments.

        As such, strong leaders are needed at every level of the district. With this in mind, each of the critical competencies in the Leadership Definition framework is outlined into four levels of leadership, which as a whole represent the district's leadership pipeline. You can learn more by searching for your specific title or one that's like your title below. You can also check out the expectations for those roles that you hope to achieve one day. Explore below to find the one-pagers that are most relevant to you. You can then download and print them out for future reference. 
      • All
      • Assistant Director
      • Assistant Principal
      • Assistant Superintedent
      • Associate Principal
      • Bus Driver
      • Chief
      • Clerk
      • Clerk (Campus)
      • Coordinator
      • Coordinator (Campus)
      • Counselor
      • Custodian
      • Department Chair
      • Director
      • Executive Director
      • General Manager
      • Grade-level Chair
      • Manager
      • Principal
      • Secretary
      • Secretary (Campus)
      • Specialist
      • Teacher
      • All
      • Outcome-Driven
      • Relationship-Centered
      • Service-Oriented
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