COLA Central Office Leadership Academy

Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii)

Central Office Leadership Academy (COLA)

The Central Office Leadership Academy (COLA) is an advanced, high-touch program designed to help central office leaders, including managers, supervisors, directors, assistant superintendents, and executive cabinet members to examine and develop strategies for solving the tough problems they face on a daily basis. This is a six-month program grounded by a problem of practice that is aligned to the participant's district strategic plan. Over the course of the Academy, participants will work through the problem by obtaining critical knowledge, research, key strategies, and practices, while making ongoing application of the content.

Areas of Focus

For Leadership Sustainability 

  • Self-examination (Recognizing Leader Identity)

  • Intentional Professional Development (Self-assessment of strengths/areas of growth; creating work experiences for continued skill development)

  • Work Experience (Diversifying your work experiences)

  • Leading Others (Developing and leading an engaged and positive workplace culture)

  • Work/Life Balance (Self-care/Well Being)

For Organizational Leadership

  • How to support the vision and mission and strategic priorities of the District/organization

  • How global incidents impact local communities

  • Managing politics in education

  • The evolving needs in education impacting all stakeholders

  • Managing and supporting a healthy and supportive culture as a leader

  • Understanding educational policy and how to develop meaningful policy for today’s needs

Register

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Academy Structure

Desired participants

District teams of executive leaders and/or central office administrators with a passion to lead in education.  We also welcome teams of executive leaders from educational foundations and organizations who serve as allies to leaders in education.  We can also enroll individual leaders from districts and/or educational organizations. 

Benefit of these collective participants

 These participants and teams coming together would establish and develop a multi-stakeholder allyship to build individual and collective capacity, establish a strong network of support, and most importantly solve problems that are impacting education to improve the outcomes of students and productivity of the overall school districts/organizations.

Program Design  

The Academy is delivered over a 6-month period, November 2025- April 2026. Three in-person sessions and three full- day virtual learning experiences.  Each month has three engagement strategies. 

  • An in-person full day or virtual day learning experience
  • 1- hour virtual team executive coaching session
  • 1- general virtual office hour opportunity 

Each month has a targeted focus area i.e. Change Management, Examining and Understanding Leadership Strengths, Creating A Positive Workplace Culture etc. that is examined through the lens of individual leadership and the context of the problem of practice identified by the participating team. Strategies, research and content are provided during the full day learning experience. Application of the content and strategies happen in between monthly sessions and are part of the virtual team coaching sessions.  Sessions would be facilitated by university professors and practitioners in the field.  

Session Dates

November 14, 2025In Person
December 11, 2025Virtual
January 23, 2026In Person 
February 19, 2026In Person
March 12, 2026Virtual
April 17, 2026In Person

Pricing Information

PricePer PersonFive-Person Team
General$3000$12,500
Network Member$2,500$10,000

Information Sessions

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Hear from Dr. Doug Anthony: Introducing COLA