Leadership Community
The CalSTAT Leadership Community includes competitively selected school site teams that deliver training and technical assistance in a number of CalSTAT approved Core Message Areas. Sites serve as Regional Institute Host Sites for one year or Leadership Sites for one year with the option to submit a Continuation Application to retain their designation. Together these site teams comprise a community of practice focused on collaborative change efforts across general and special education that embraces the sharing of knowledge and experiences through face-to-face networking and distance learning opportunities. CalSTAT’s goal in establishing this Leadership Community has been to support the development of collaborative systems involving general and special educators and families in implementing effective, research-based educational programs and strategies. Since the community’s inception a decade ago, CalSTAT has awarded 103 site teams who have delivered nearly 600 distinct training events to over 20,000 participants.
Regional Institute Host Sites are those entities that provide training institutes at the regional or local level in one or more of CalSTAT’s nine Core Message Areas. CalSTAT selects Regional Institute Host Sites each year through a rigorous application and review process. Regional Institute Host Sites are strongly encouraged to utilize the training and expertise of team members from Leadership Sites as professional speakers to share information on their model programs.
Leadership Sites serve as Technical Assistance providers for CalSTAT in so doing they are financially supported to share their work statewide. Through a competitive peer review process CalSTAT identifies new Leadership Sites each year in acknowledgement of best practices in one or more of five distinct Core Message Areas that include: reading, behavior, collaboration, transition and family partnerships. Leadership Sites may retain their designation by applying to continue each year and must meet specific benchmarks to be selected as a Continuation Leadership Site.
The Leadership Community utilizes a virtual environment located on this Web site named the Community Virtual Network Space. This is where member site teams share learning, develop skills, and plan for action. Visit the site to view the Community’s Calendar of training and technical assistance events in your area, learn about online networking and using Web 2.0 tools on the Resources page, and download a variety of webinars including national speakers and community members presenting on their collaborative work.
Contact Information
All questions and communications related to the Leadership Community should be addressed to CalSTAT Project Coordinator Marin Brown at (707) 849-2265 or marin.brown@calstat.org.
Last updated: 10/25/2012