Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools for the remainder of this semester, it has created professional development opportunities that we have not considered in the past
for our members. Last week over 400 members of the Council of Administrators and Supervisors (CAS) and the Empire State Supervisors and Administrators Association (ESSAA) from across the state enthusiastically participated in a free one-hour virtual presentation with the nationally noted American educator, writer, motivational speaker, educational consultant, and professor, Dr. Todd Whitaker, on Leadership During Difficult Times.
Dr. Whitaker inspired and entertained the CAS / ESSAA audience via a ZOOM conference from his home in Missouri. He provided the participants with his timeless and often humorous suggestions for building a positive culture, fostering two-way communication, and future-focused thinking during this unprecedented time of rapid change and uncertainty as well as for the future.
Special thanks to our friends in ESSAA and the professional development team of Dr. Shireen Fasciglione and Dr. Shelley Baldwin-Nye, who coordinated the entire event. Based on the volume of participation and the overwhelmingly positive evaluation comments received, there is a strong possibility we will be producing similar events in the future.
