School leaders traveled to the Penn State Berks campus on Thursday, August 3, 2017, to attend the Berks County Schools Administrators’ Conference. Coordinated by the BCIU Office of Professional Development and Curriculum, this annual event serves as a kick off to the school year as new administrators are introduced, and participants hear a notable keynote and attend job-alike sessions to discuss common issues. More than 225 administrators from all 18 school districts and the Berks Career and Technology Center attended.
We were honored that Senator Judy Schwank accepted our invitation to attend and speak to the group. Senator Schwank expressed her gratitude and appreciation to administrators for their leadership and shared that she is always available to support our efforts in Pre-K to 12 education. The conference also offered an opportunity to acknowledge Senator Schwank as the recipient of the BCIU’s most recent Community Partner Award. In addition, Chancellor Hillkirk took the stage to welcome the group to the campus and shared a meaningful message about the value of public education and collaboration. We are truly grateful for the support of these two model leaders who advocate for our children, schools, and the Berks County community.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Gustavo R. Grodnitzky, author of the book, “Culture Trumps Everything: Cultivating a Culture of Success.” Dr. Grodnitzky, clinical and school psychology consultant, has presented at national and international conferences regarding strategic planning, change management, and organizational culture. In his interactive presentation, Dr. Grodnitzky shared his insight and philosophy on culture and environmental changes to foster behaviors for successful organizations. By repeatedly live-polling attendees, the group was able to see firsthand how he “changed the culture” in the room and how they could take those same practices back to their districts.
Dr. Grodnitzky stated, “We too often focus on changing a policy rather than focusing on changing culture.” As key leaders of our schools, the participants will be able to incorporate Dr. Grodnitzky’s message into leadership team development and put into practice the strategies presented to foster positive cultures for their staff and students.
For additional information about this event, please contact Mr. Dan Richards, director, or Mrs. Connie Skipper, assistant director, Office of Professional Development and Curriculum.