Executive Coaching Network
Are you a practicing superintendent who wants to elevate your leadership journey and transform your professional life? The TASA Executive Coaching Network, with support from the Texas Leadership Center, can strategically pair you with an experienced executive coach who is trained to guide you through a thought-provoking and creative coaching process.
Together, you and your coach (most are current or former superintendents) will identify strategic goals, develop actionable plans, enhance your leadership practices, and unlock your full potential. Through the coaching process, you will learn how to show up as the best version of yourself, maximize your impact in your district community, and achieve higher levels of fulfillment in all aspects of your life.
About the Executive Coaching Network
Why Executive Coaching?
We all have goals we want to reach, challenges we’re striving to overcome, and times when we feel stuck or when we just want to grow as leaders. According to the 2022 ICF Global Coaching Outcomes Awareness Study, leaders participating in executive coaching report remarkable benefits:
- improved communication skills
- increased self-esteem
- better work-life balance
- enhanced productivity
- optimized teamwork performance
- improved leadership and management strategies
- accelerated onboarding into new professional roles
The Difference in Coaching vs. Mentoring
Mentors share their past experiences as examples to help you answer your questions. Coaches ask questions that help you find your own answers. Coaching goes deeper into the client’s specific challenges and often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.
Time Commitment
Each client decides how often they meet with their coach. While we recommend that you meet every other week, you may decide that a monthly meeting works better for you.
Who Should Participate?
Participation in the TASA Executive Coaching Network is intended for all practicing school superintendents, both new and experienced. First-year superintendents benefit from partnering with a coach while also participating in our Superintendent Mentoring Program and First-Time Superintendents Academy.
About the Coaches
Only the most talented and successful Texas school leaders (most are current or former school superintendents) are invited to become coaches for the TASA Executive Coaching Network. Our coaches are trained extensively on the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Core Competencies. ICF is the leading global organization for coaches and coaching. Credentials are awarded to professional coaches who have met stringent education and experience requirements and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the coaching competencies that set the standard in the profession. Achieving credentials through ICF signifies a coach’s commitment to integrity, understanding and mastery of coaching skills, and dedication to clients.
Special Introductory Pricing (and Free Coaching for First-Time Superintendents)
When first-time superintendents enroll in TASA’s First-Time Superintendents Academy, they will be provided with six sessions with an executive coach at no cost. Other interested superintendents, regardless of experience, should contact TASA for a proposal and pricing. As the TASA Executive Coaching Network is a new offering, special introductory rates for executive coaching are being offered. As we scale this new program, subsidized pricing will be offered to superintendents using a sliding scale based on district size. Contact Brandon Core at TASA to learn more about the coaching program and to request pricing and a proposal.
What's Included
The initial package includes 12 hours of personalized executive and leadership coaching over a 6- or 12-month period (your choice) as well as administration and debriefing of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI® assessment). TKI® helps leaders conduct productive one-on-one and group discussions and understand how different approaches affect interpersonal and group dynamics, allowing you to choose the best approach for any situation and create more productive outcomes.
What Our Coaching Clients Are Saying
“Serving as a new superintendent can be one of the most isolated and solitary experiences as we weigh incredibly difficult and complex problems in a vacuum. I am most grateful that I had the benefit of an expert coach who helped me find solutions through reflective thought processes. As a result, I was able to better serve my community.”
“The coaching experience has been incredibly beneficial in my development as a superintendent. Through the program, I gained valuable insights into effective leadership strategies and developed a clearer vision for our district’s future. The personalized guidance and support I received helped me navigate complex challenges and enhance my decision-making skills. The impact on my professional growth has been profound, and I believe other superintendents would greatly benefit from this program as well.”
“Executive coaching has truly helped me to grow in my confidence and skills as a district leader. My coach has provided me with tools to identify areas that could hinder my success, worked with me to develop a plan of action, and held me accountable to seeing those through. I am a stronger leader today because of my work with my executive coach.”
“I began my first superintendency and had my first session with my TASA executive coach in the same month. I truly am not sure how I would have survived those first few months without the support of my coach! The learning curve for a superintendent is steep. There is a need for both in-the-moment support as well as coaching for the long term. Executive coaching gave me both. Whenever I needed a quick answer to a board member issue, I could easily text my coach for guidance. This allowed me to move more quickly to resolve issues. Likewise, the scheduled time for in-depth discussions on topics ranging from managing executive sessions to bond programs kept me focused on the long term. I have had many of my friends and colleagues begin their journey into the superintendency, and I continue to highly recommend that they participate in TASA’s Executive Coaching Network.“
“The coaching and feedback received from my coach was invaluable to me as a new superintendent. You often second-guess yourself and wonder if you’re making the right decisions and really can’t discuss those thoughts with your team. So, having a coach to push my thinking and question if I had considered all the possibilities was key in helping me successfully navigate my first two years as a superintendent. My coach was there as a partner and we discussed very critical decisions. He helped me think through a plan to address a very serious crisis within our district. As a result, I was able to successfully navigate the situation and develop a viable solution. My coach was critical part of my success, and I am filled with gratitude.”
“As a superintendent of eight years, I felt I needed a nudge for whatever was next for me to usher in a new chapter of leadership. I desired someone who had walked this path to sit with me and not only process the current landscape of challenges in education but also to be a personal coach. My experience with the TASA Executive Coaching Network has been very beneficial to me, and I would recommend it to the most seasoned of leaders. I have learned how important it is for leaders in this difficult environment to redefine themselves as the conditions change. The coaching I have received has allowed this to happen for me. My coach has led me through many reflective questions that I find myself writing down and going back to later to help shape my thinking. It has not only benefited me but also our district. No one understands the weight of the superintendency like one who has felt it himself. I needed someone like this to help me grow.“
“This has been one of the most transformative experiences of my career. My coaching began in September 2023 and I felt the impact immediately. My coach was approachable and very knowledgeable. The questions used were insightful and caused me to reflect on my practices as a leader. I am more confident and more aware as a district leader now. Thank you.“
“My coach is compassionate and trustworthy. He is experienced and patiently lets my words guide the conversation. He has tools provided by the program, and sometimes they assist in the conversation, but he allows the session to deviate from those tools to suit the needs of the session. I love the flexibility and adaptation to meet me where I am at that moment. The coaching experience is time that allows you to reflect on your practices and evaluate your work without judgment. You feel supported and also confident that you are the right person for the role, and you are building capacity to navigate the many responsibilities of service.”
“Executive coaching provided me with a sounding board each month. It is so important to have a person that has filled the superintendent shoes and can listen and challenge you to grow as a leader. The TASA coaching experience was especially helpful when navigating through difficult decisions and growing as a leader in my district.“
“The TASA coaching experience is something I will recommend to every new superintendent I meet. Having someone to talk to who is in no way connected to my district has been a game-changer in my first two years of the superintendency. I was coached through some difficult situations and my coach helped me see a new perspective almost every time. The resources and wisdom she shared will impact my leadership throughout the remainder of my career.”
2023-24 Sponsors
Learn More
Interested in participating in the TASA Executive Coaching Network? Contact us directly to learn more.
Brandon Core
Associate Executive Director,
Professional Learning & Member Engagement