M.A.S.S. Assistant Superintendent Leadership Seminars (ASLS)
A Leadership Program for Assistant Superintendents and Other Central Office Administrators
2019-2020 marks the sixth year of the Assistant Superintendent Leadership Seminars (ASLS) and the continuing hope of providing high-quality professional development for administrators who are often the closest to the superintendent in the leadership of a school district. The goal of the program is to increase the understanding of leadership in school districts through promoting personal growth and reflection, building organizational capacity, and developing skill in addressing the political dimension of the work. The facilitators of the program are Dr. Anthony Bent, former MASS president and superintendent in four school districts, and Dr. Christine Francis, former elementary principal in Belmont and assistant superintendent in the Westford Public Schools.
ASLS I: Designed for assistant superintendents and other central office administrators, this series introduces a framework for addressing the leadership opportunities and challenges inherent in these positions. The curriculum and resulting discussions emphasize the importance of creating strong professional cultures through positive values, respect, modeling, communicating, and building capacity throughout the district. The program draws from texts, articles, case studies, videos, and discussion protocols. Panels from school leaders, including a special presentation by Jon Saphier (Research for Better Teaching), enhance the overall experience for participants. More information about ASLS I
ASLS II: Designed for those who have completed ASLS I, this series builds upon the shared understandings developed in the first year of the program. Resources including texts, articles, case studies, videos, and discussion protocols focus the participants on their continuing understanding of leadership at the district level. As in ASLS I, panel discussions from area leaders in education enhance the overall experience.
More information about ASLS II
ASLS III: Designed for those who have completed ASLS II, this series is organic in nature. It is structured around the specific interests and experiences of the participants, who share success stories, present problems of practice, and lead discussions of participant-chosen topics. Experienced assistant superintendents and other central office administrators who are not new to their leadership role may also be interested in joining this high-level discussion group. (They should consult with either Dr. Bent or Dr. Francis for more information.)
More information about ASLS III
What people are saying…
“In the past three years as a member of ASLS, I have grown as a district leader through our thought-provoking discussions, opportunities for reflection, and the resources provided.”
“These experiences have shaped my outlook on leadership and provided me with opportunities to grow and evolve as a leader now and in the future.”
“Sessions are well organized and well run. Everyone feels valued and supported by Christine and Tony’s genuine excitement for lifelong learning. I feel lucky to have been a part of it.”
Program Leader BIOS:
Anthony Bent holds a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate from Boston College. His career includes the following: foreign language teacher, high school department head, and district coordinator of foreign languages. He also has held central office positions in Watertown, and was superintendent in Shrewsbury for fifteen years. In 2008-2009, Dr. Bent was president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS). From 2009-2014, he was interim superintendent in three districts (Masconomet Regional, Leominster, Groton-Dunstable). Dr. Bent served on the Wellesley School Committee from 2015-2018.
Dr. Bent’s current work centers on coaching superintendents of schools using an organic framework that emerges from the needs of superintendents and the specific challenges that they face in their respective district. Additionally, he chairs the Global Studies-21st Century Skills Committee of MASS.
Also under the auspices of MASS, Dr. Bent co-leads the Assistant Superintendent Leadership Seminars (ASLS), a program that focuses on developing the leadership capacity of Assistant Superintendents and other Central Office administrators.
Christine Francis taught, led, and learned in urban and suburban public schools in the greater Boston area for 41 years as a teacher, staff developer, curriculum coordinator, principal, and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. She holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Boston College, master’s and CAGS degrees from Lesley University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
Her current work as an education consultant focuses on effective and strategic leadership that incorporates collaboration among leaders and teachers. Her areas of interest include mentorship of school and district leaders; professional learning communities that focus on student learning; educator evaluation as a tool to promote professional collaboration and continuous educator growth; global education and 21st-century skills.
She co-leads the Assistant Superintendent Leadership Seminars (ASLS), which began in 2014-2015 and is now a three-year program, focusing on developing the leadership capacity of Assistant Superintendents and other Central Office administrators in the personal, organizational and political dimensions of these positions.
Registration is Open for ASLS for 2019-2020
DEADLINE is JULY 31, 2019. Registrations after the deadline will be accepted on a space-available basis.
The Assistant Superintendent Leadership Seminar is a leadership program for Assistant Superintendents and Other Central Office Administrators