Dear Leadership Lab Participants,

Thank you all sincerely for your courageous and collaborative engagement throughout this journey in the CIS Ontario Leadership Lab. Your willingness to dive deeply into self-reflection and your openness to learning alongside others have been truly inspiring.

Your participation this year has exemplified courage, collaboration, and a deep commitment to personal and professional growth. You’ve embraced the opportunity to explore your core strengths through the MVS Inventory, engaged thoughtfully in ethical decision-making scenarios, and taken meaningful steps toward defining your unique Leadership Purpose Statements.

We’ve been particularly moved by your reflections, including your insights into the value of personal alignment, the importance of meaningful connections across our educational community, and the powerful acknowledgment that we are all leaders, capable of inspiring change and fostering growth within ourselves and others.

Here is the feedback that we are taking forward with us in the design for Year 2:

5 Things that Went Well:

1. MVS Inventory & Core Strengths
   Participants found this foundational exercise essential, greatly enhancing self-awareness and understanding of others’ motivations and behaviors.

2. Leadership Purpose Statements
   Continuously refining personal leadership statements empowered participants to anchor their actions and decisions to core values, guiding daily leadership practice.

3. Use of Protocols (Futures and Transitions Protocols)
   Participants highly valued the practicality and immediate applicability of these structured approaches to problem-solving and strategic planning.

4. Face-to-Face Sessions and Panel Discussions
   In-person sessions created a rich environment for authentic networking, collaborative learning, and meaningful connections.

5. Facilitation Quality
   Facilitators received high praise for their diverse expertise, approachability, and thoughtful session design, significantly enriching the learning experience.

3 Areas for Improvement:

1. Virtual “In-betweeners” Sessions
   Many participants found virtual evening sessions challenging due to scheduling or format, suggesting reconsideration of timing or restructuring into alternative formats (e.g., podcasts or readings).

2. Action Plan Relevance
   Some felt the Action Plan was less meaningful or redundant alongside the Leadership Purpose Statement, suggesting clearer integration or emphasis on purpose over action plans.

3. Enhanced Mentorship and Personal Coaching Opportunities
   Participants indicated a strong desire for more structured mentorship and personalized coaching time to deepen learning and guide practical implementation.

3 Powerful Quotations (Sound Bites) from Participants:

1. “Absolutely! It’s a wonderful networked opportunity, a chance to reflect and learn about yourself as a leader, and consider how you can grow and challenge yourself.”

2. “It was a radical awakening for me to understand that my relational skills are valuable in a leadership context.”

3. “If you come with questions about leadership as an educator you will leave with lots of insights and even deeper questions.”

Overall Leadership Growth (Patterns and Impact):

Participants repeatedly emphasized increased self-awareness, clarity of values, and practical leadership tools as significant growth areas. The opportunity to reflect deeply on personal leadership style, practice intentional relational leadership, and learn structured methodologies (protocols and coaching strategies) resonated strongly. Participants felt empowered to lead authentically, highlighting the importance of aligning personal and professional values.

Suggestions for Next Year (Tweaks and Adjustments):

• Consider alternative formats for mid-program check-ins.

• Clarify or streamline the role of the Action Plan.

• Integrate formal mentorship or personalized coaching elements.

This synthesis of participant feedback highlights both the program’s strengths and opportunities for targeted improvements, ensuring its ongoing relevance and appeal to future cohorts.

As we move forward, we look ahead with excitement to building upon your valuable feedback, ensuring continued alignment with the needs of CIS Ontario schools for Season 14.

Thank you once again for your incredible commitment and meaningful contributions to the Leadership Lab. Your journey doesn’t end here—we can’t wait to see the positive impact you’ll continue to make in your schools and communities.

Warmest regards,

Tracy, Graham and Garth, and the entire Cohort 21 team