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Emerging Leaders FAQs

  • Who are ASCD emerging leaders?
  • Is there an age limit for Emerging Leaders program participants?
  • How do I nominate someone for the Emerging Leaders program?
  • How do I apply for the Emerging Leaders program?
  • What are the components of the Emerging Leaders application?
  • How are emerging leaders selected?
  • How many emerging leaders are accepted each year?
  • How does the Emerging Leaders program work?
  • What are the benefits and expectations for emerging leaders?
  • What sort of exclusive opportunities will I have as an emerging leader?
  • What leadership pathways are available to emerging leaders?
  • How does the program help emerging leaders grow?
  • How do emerging leaders complete the program?

 

Who are ASCD emerging leaders? 

Emerging leaders are educators who 

  • Have been in the profession 5–15 years;
  • Demonstrate a passion for teaching, learning, and leadership; 
  • See to grow in their servant leadership capacity;
  • Collectively exhibit a broad range of diversity in position, location, cultural background, and perspective
  • Hold promise as leaders; and 
  • Are committed to ASCD's beliefs and to pursuing leadership opportunities. 

All emerging leaders establish an understanding of ASCD's mission and goals, attend the ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) Conference, connect with experienced ASCD leaders, and engage in a two-year program of activities.

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Is there an age limit for Emerging Leaders program participants? 

There is no age limit for Emerging Leaders program participants. However, since the program is targeted at educators who have been in the profession for 5–15 years and are just beginning to pursue leadership opportunities within ASCD and the field of education, most ASCD emerging leaders tend to be under the age of 40. We ask for a date of birth on the online application to help ensure that each class of emerging leaders comprises a diverse group of individuals.

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How do I nominate someone for the Emerging Leaders program? 

The window to nominate an educator for the ASCD Emerging Leaders program opens every spring. Check back for more information in April of next year.

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How do I apply for the Emerging Leaders program? 

You must be nominated by a supervisor, colleague or peer who is familiar with your work as an educator. You will be notified once you are nominated with instructions on how to complete the application process to be considered for the ASCD Emerging Leaders program.

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What are the components of the Emerging Leaders application? 

The ASCD Emerging Leaders program application is an online form. We recommend that you fill it out in one sitting. Please allow at least 30 minutes to complete the application. To prepare to fill out the application, either print out a PDF copy of the application or have the following information ready before accessing the online form:

Contact Information

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Work phone number
  • Employer name and work address
  • Describe social media presence
  • Name and email address of nominator or a reference
  • Your relationship to nominator or reference

Demographic Information

  • Date of birth
  • Ethnic background
  • Years in the education field
  • Current role in education
  • Type of community served
  • How you heard about the Emerging Leaders program
  • Any leadership roles outside of education
  • Past and current professional affiliations

About You

  • Awards and accomplishments
  • Short essay questions (200 words or fewer per question):
    • In your own words, define leadership and what it means to you.
    • Why do you want to be an ASCD Emerging Leader?
    • Give one example of how you demonstrated leadership that engaged other educators at your school, in your district or in other organizations.
    • As an Emerging Leader, how do you see yourself contributing to the advancement of ASCD's mission?
    • If you could change one thing about education, what would it be?
    • What has been your greatest triumph as an educator?
    • If you were able to "do-over" one thing as an educator, what would it be?

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How are emerging leaders selected? 

Anyone can nominate candidates for the Emerging Leaders program. Candidates are then invited to complete an application during the months of May and June. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Completed applications are scored by a selection panel trained to use a rubric focused on the program goals. The selection panel is composed of ASCD staff, veteran emerging leaders, and external reviewers who currently hold leadership positions within the organization. Finalists are forwarded to the executive director for approval.

The new class of emerging leaders is announced in September.

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How many emerging leaders are accepted to the program each year? 

The selection committee will accept all applicants who are a good fit for the program. Successful applicants will articulate all or most of the following components in their application: 5–15 years in education; a willingness to engage with ASCD; demonstrated effectiveness, drive, vision, and passion for the profession; an alignment with ASCD mission and vision; and a commitment to growing as a servant leader. As a group, each class of emerging leaders demonstrates diversity of perspective, role, experience, location, and demographics.

How does the Emerging Leaders Program work? 

Once the new class of emerging leaders has been selected, ASCD makes an announcement welcoming the new class to the ASCD community. Emerging leaders are given a press release template to aid in communicating this achievement at the local level.

Emerging leaders will be invited to attend an online orientation session, which covers the expectations for program participants as well as tips for maximizing the program experience. The orientation session will be recorded and archived for those who are unable to attend the live session.

Emerging leaders are then asked to complete an interest inventory, which will help ASCD staff identify mentors, distribute targeted resources, and share information to program participants. With support from ASCD each emerging leader is expected to create and pursue unique leadership pathways at ASCD.

Throughout the program, emerging leaders will

  • Become part of a select pool of educators with exclusive access to opportunities to expand their professional reach.
  • Receive the Leader to Leader (L2L) newsletter, a monthly e-publication with timely notices and news for ASCD leaders.
  • Be encouraged to share news and updates with ASCD staff. News about emerging leaders will be shared via social media and in the L2L newsletter.
  • Have the opportunity to connect with local affiliate leadership, if applicable.
  • Have the opportunity to participate in activities for emerging leaders at ASCD meetings and professional learning events.

At the conclusion of the program, emerging leaders receive a certificate of completion and a letter of congratulations from ASCD. Emerging Leaders alumni are encouraged to remain involved with ASCD and continue their leadership and influence through formal and informal leadership roles.

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What are the benefits and expectations for emerging leaders? 

Benefits

Emerging leaders receive

  • Networking opportunities with other ASCD leaders.
  • Quarterly conference calls with ASCD.
  • Behind the Book events with ASCD authors.
  • Visibility throughout the ASCD community.
  • Opportunities to connect with other emerging leaders, ASCD leaders, and ASCD staff.
  • Exclusive opportunities to engage with the ASCD community.

Expectations

Emerging leaders are expected to (optional activities listed in italics)

  • Commit to a minimum of two years in the Emerging Leaders program.
  • Travel to and attend the Emerging Leader Orientation.
  • Become an ASCD Educator Advocate.
  • Join the ASCD Leader to Leader group on Facebook.
  • Follow the #ASCDL2L hashtag on Twitter.
  • Complete an online interest inventory.
  • Attend (or listen to the recording of) an orientation for emerging leaders.
  • Complete an evaluation of the Emerging Leaders program.
  • Communicate regularly with ASCD and, if applicable, their mentor.
  • Pursue at least one of the ASCD leadership pathways.
  • Cocreate an Emerging Leader action plan with their emerging leader mentor.
  • Network with other emerging leaders.
  • Attend the Leader to Leader (L2L) Conference.
  • Attend the annual conference, ASCD Empower.
  • Attend the Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy.

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What sort of exclusive opportunities will I have as an emerging leader?

Many of the exclusive opportunities ASCD offers to emerging leaders depend on a number of factors and are always changing. The following are a few of the opportunities ASCD has arranged for emerging leaders in the past:

  • Emerging Leader Allison Rodman has published a new title with ASCD coming out in May 2019: Personalized Professional Learning: A Job-Embedded Pathway for Elevating Teacher Voice.
  • Emerging Leaders Karen Baptiste, Alina Davis, and Matt Mingle are currently serving as members of the ASCD Board of Directors.
  • Emerging Leader Umair Qureshi founded and serves as the executive director of the Pakistan ASCD affiliate.
  • Emerging leader Natalie Odom Pough founded a new ASCD student chapter at Clemson University.
  • Emerging leaders Megan Everette, Rachael George, and Michael Janatovich have written blog posts for ASCD Inservice.
  • The "Road Tested" Education Update column has featured three emerging leaders: Jessica Bohn wrote "Winning Over Veteran Teachers," Daina Lieberman shared "Ten Tips for Teaching Twice Exceptional Students," and Jennifer Orr wrote "Making a Habit of 'How Do You Know?'"
  • Emerging Leader Pete Hall is now a popular ASCD author, speaker, and faculty member.

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What leadership pathways are available to emerging leaders? 

Even though ASCD emerging leaders are encouraged to follow the leadership path that most aligns with their interests, leadership pathways fall into five general categories:

  • ASCD Programs and Leadership
  • Government Relations
  • Professional Development
  • Whole Child
  • Writing for ASCD

Examples of each leadership pathway are listed below. Learning and leadership action plans may combine several pathways or focus on a single pathway. Please note that some of the opportunities listed below may depend on a separate application or approval process to participate. Although emerging leaders have access to guidance and support from emerging leader coaches, liaisons, and staff, the success of each endeavor cannot be guaranteed.

ASCD Programs and Leadership

  • Becoming a member of the ASCD Board of Directors.
  • Becoming more involved with the regional ASCD affiliate or connected community.
  • Becoming involved with current ASCD student chapters.
  • Becoming involved with current ASCD Professional Interest Communities.
  • Hosting local networking events for educators.
  • Hosting meet-ups at ASCD Empower (annual conference) or other ASCD events.
  • Nominating a colleague for the Emerging Leaders program.
  • Starting an ASCD Professional Interest Community.
  • Starting an ASCD student chapter.
  • Working with the local affiliate to recruit new members.
  • Facilitating online conversations with your fellow emerging leaders.

Government Relations

  • Participating in ASCD grassroots advocacy campaigns.
  • Getting involved in local and national education policy.
  • Attending ASCD's Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy.

Professional Development

  • Facilitating or assisting with ASCD professional development opportunities.
  • Presenting at ASCD Empower (annual conference).
  • Presenting at other ASCD events.
  • Piloting or evaluating ASCD products.
  • Participating in or presenting a web seminar.
  • Participating in an ASCD Learn Teach Lead Radio podcast.

Whole Child

  • Promoting the tenets of the Whole Child where you work.
  • Writing about the whole child on the ASCD blog, Inservice.
  • Supporting the Whole Child Network of Schools.

Writing for ASCD

  • Writing for ASCD's Educational Leadership magazine.
  • Writing for ASCD Express.
  • Writing blog posts for ASCD Inservice.
  • Publishing a book with ASCD.

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How does the program help emerging leaders grow? 

The Emerging Leaders program is designed to prepare diverse educators for leadership roles in ASCD and its constituent groups. By the conclusion of their participation in the program, ASCD emerging leaders will have at a minimum

  • Grown as servant leaders contributing meaningfully to the association and the profession.
  • Developed an understanding to advance ASCD's positions and values.
  • Participated in shaping education policy and advocating for the whole child.
  • Explored multiple ASCD leadership pathways through formal and informal roles.
  • Encouraged others to get involved in ASCD.

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How do emerging leaders complete the program? 

Successful nominees will have met the minimum expectations of the program and demonstrated a willingness to lead, serve, and engage with ASCD throughout the program's course. Emerging leaders who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion and a letter from ASCD's Executive Director. 

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