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(Photo supplied by Red Deer Public Schools)
leadership session

Aspiring Leaders initiative returns for a third year

Oct 22, 2024 | 11:03 AM

Red Deer Public Schools announced on Monday that the first Aspiring Leaders session of the 2024-25 academic year took place, marking its third straight year.

The first meeting brought together 45 staff from Red Deer Public Schools to continue the division’s leadership development initiative.

In the session, they went over ‘five essential questions for leaders,’ led by a panel of five division leaders who shared examples they’ve experienced.

The discussions were focused on five questions that challenged perspectives including wait, what?, I wonder…?, couldn’t we at least…?, how can I help?, and what truly matters?

“Great leaders ask themselves essential questions that challenge their assumptions, inspire their curiosity and help them build meaningful connections,” said Corrine Thorsteinson, Associate Superintendent of People Services.

“The strength of the Aspiring Leaders program lies in the collective wisdom of the group. Each participant brings unique insights and experiences, and over the last three years, this collaborative approach is consistently highlighted in the participant feedback as a key takeaway.”

After the panel discussion, participants asked their own powerful questions and in a roundtable exercise reflected on the importance of working through complex challenges with clarity.

There are three more aspiring leaders sessions set for later this year including six thinking hats for decision making on Dec. 3 and developing hats for leadership on Feb. 6. In addition, there will be a leadership spotlight session on April 3 and leadership symposium May 29.

“These sessions are a perfect opportunity for any Red Deer Public employee who wants to explore whether a formal leadership position is right for them; wants to build or enhance their leadership toolkit; wants to lead where they are at; or wants an opportunity to learn from and engage with other colleagues interested in leadership,” Thorsteinson added.