- Chester County Intermediate Unit
- About the Program
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The CCIU is excited to announce the opening of the 2023-24 Leadership Development Program cohort! The CCIU Leadership Development Program is entering its sixth year with a proven record in successfully growing leadership skills through interactive training and unique cross-divisional experiences.
Who? The 2023-24 LDP is open to all CCIU employees (full-time and part-time) who meet the following criteria:
- Employee has worked for the CCIU for a minimum of one full year
- Employee has not held a supervisory position at the CCIU for more than two years
- Employee is not currently an administrator
What? This program provides project-based learning with mentor guidance and training sessions. Lead a team to complete a cross-divisional project. Present your final results to an administrator/supervisor group.
Why? This program will help you set yourself up for success by providing the following:
- Practical experience with mentor support
- Development of key leadership skills
- Organizational exposure
- Supported participation in new initiatives
Contact Us
Helpful Resources
Program Outline
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Format
- Training is project based
- Each cohort member will be given the opportunity to either propose a project or select a project from a given list.
- Projects should be outside your daily job responsibilities and should be cross-divisional.
- Any CCIU employee is welcome to propose a project idea!
- Members will have approximately five months to complete at least one of the following stages of a project:
- Analysis and design
- Development
- Implementation
- Each cohort member, guided by the support of a project owner, will be the primary lead for their project and will be responsible for leading a team based on project needs
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Support
- In addition to a project owner who will provide guidance on the tasks of the actual project, each cohort member will also be assigned a leadership mentor (not in their department) who can offer guidance on building leadership skills
- All cohort members will experience four training/check-in sessions that will occur on November 8, 2023, January 18, 2024, January 25, 2024 and March 14, 2024 from 3:30pm-5:00pm at the Educational Service Center building on Boot Road.
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Completion
- Each cohort member will have the opportunity to present results to an admin/supervisor group on May 23, 2024, as well as be recognized by the CCIU Board of Directors at the May 15th, 2024 Board meeting.
Mentors
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Have you ever used your own experiences to offer perspective or guidance when a colleague asked for advice? That was mentorship! The Leadership Development Training program is looking for mentors like you to share their experiences and knowledge to help build our future leaders. This is an opportunity to make an impact on the lives and careers of other employees — and the future of the CCIU. It's also an opportunity to grow your own skill set and knowledge. Everyone knows you learn more when you teach!
What's involved?
- Mentors will be matched up with participants and will develop a schedule with their mentees for check-ins.
- Mentors and cohorts will also meet together as a full group two additional times for tabletop discussion on process and results, as well as skill-specific training.
Become a mentor by filling out a Mentor Application!
Projects
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One of the key elements of the Leadership Development Program is the project-based approach to learning. Participants will each receive a CCIU-based project that they will need to move through the project management lifecycle. By working through the various steps of a project, the participants will experience a number of project-based and people-based challenges that leaders often encounter. It is these experiences that help build the knowledge and skills needed to grow personally and as a CCIU employee.
At this time we are seeking project ideas. While any idea will be considered, we recommend the following guidelines:
- Project should be something that will benefit the CCIU
- Project should allow for at least one of the following stages of completion within a 4-5 month timeframe:
- Analysis and design of a formalized plan
- Development of project design
- Implementation/execution of project design
- Project ideally will require input from more than one division
- Project incorporates some aspect of challenge/risk - Leaders are not developed solely from completion of successful projects, some of the best leaders have worked through more complicated challenges.
A number of the CCIU's programs have been developed as a result of employee ideas generated through channels such as these. Some examples include: County Cup, Aspire, Special Education Certification and sourcing maintenance to districts.
Have an idea? Share it!
FAQs
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Eligibility
- Who Is Eligible for Participation in the Leadership Development Program (LDP)?
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- The 2023-24 LDP is open to all CCIU employees (Part-time and Full-time) who meet the following criteria:
- Employee has worked for the CCIU for a minimum of one full year
- Employee has not held a supervisory position at the CCIU for more than two years
- Employee is not currently an administrator
- The 2023-24 LDP is open to all CCIU employees (Part-time and Full-time) who meet the following criteria:
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What to Expect
- What does the application process look like?
- Each interested employee will be asked to complete an online application which will consist of a few short open-ended questions. Additionally, within the application the employee will be asked to upload their current resume or CV as well as provide the names and emails for two references at the CCIU, one required to be your current supervisor. As soon as you submit your online application, emails will be sent to the two references you listed, and they will be asked to complete a brief online reference form. Once the application period has closed, all collected application packages will be reviewed by the program committee against an established rubric and the 2023-24 cohort will be selected.
- What is a Leadership Development Program (LDP) cohort member expected to do?
- The LDP is a project-based program supported with mentors and trainings. You will be expected to participate in the following:
- Working under the guidance of a project owner, you will lead a cross-divisional project over a five-month period (December 2023 – April 2024).
- You will be asked to attend four cohort meetings/trainings that will occur on November 8, 2023, January 18, 2024, January 25, 2024 and March 14,2024 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm at the Educational Service Center building on Boot Road.
- You will coordinate check-in meetings with your assigned mentor at a time and frequency that works best for your schedules.
- You will present on your project experience to a group of administrators and supervisors on May 23, 2024.
- There may be opportunities presented to engage in additional leadership forums, but anything additional will be 100% optional.
- The LDP is a project-based program supported with mentors and trainings. You will be expected to participate in the following:
- What do the projects look like that a LDP member is asked to lead?
- Specific projects for the 2023-24 cohort are still being collected; however, projects are designed to:
- Benefit the CCIU
- Allow completion of at least one of the following stages during the allotted time:
- Analysis and design of a formalized plan
- Development of a project design/framework
- Implementation/execution of project design
- Require input from more than one division
- Incorporate some aspect of challenge/risk
- Projects do not necessarily have to be large in scale. Some examples of past projects include:
- Developing training on Safe2Stay
- Establishing a process for external video project requests
- Establishing business partnerships for career exploration
- Expanding resources in the Lending Library
- Cohort members will have the opportunity to review all proposed projects and prioritize their top choices. Cohort members can also propose a project idea if it meets the criteria indicated above.
- Specific projects for the 2023-24 cohort are still being collected; however, projects are designed to:
- Will I be able to complete the required LDP work within my normal work hours?
- Each project will vary in regard to meetings or activities that may be needed during the standard workday. Cohort members will have the opportunity to review all possible projects and prioritize project selections based on area of interest, as well as balance with current job responsibilities. Employees are responsible for working directly with their supervisors to ensure appropriate plans are in place to meet job requirements. Supervisors are not obligated to allow leave time.
- Will I be paid for overtime for any LDP work conducted beyond my normal work hours?
- If you are currently working in a non-exempt (overtime eligible) position, you must work with your supervisor to flex your schedule or get approval to extend work hours to accommodate project-related activities. Exempt employees (not overtime eligible) will not be paid for work outside their normal work hours. Exempt employees include professional staff and some project staff.
- What does the application process look like?
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Program Benefits
- What do I gain by participating in the Leadership Development Program (LDP)?
- The LDP is focused on providing an opportunity for participants to gain valuable leadership skills and experiences aligned with the CCIU administrator framework. This will include:
- Direct mentor support from an experienced CCIU administrator or supervisor outside of your current program or division
- Direct project guidance from a project owner specialized in the associated content area
- Support and camaraderie with fellow LDP cohort members
- Increased exposure to people and programs outside your day-to-day
- Recognition among CCIU administrators and supervisors of your leadership interest and participation, including recognition at a CCIU Board meeting
- The LDP is focused on providing an opportunity for participants to gain valuable leadership skills and experiences aligned with the CCIU administrator framework. This will include:
- What do I gain by participating in the Leadership Development Program (LDP)?
