SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program 2022-23 Year End Executive Summary Report

This Executive Summary Report contains an overview and history of the program to give the reader context for the progress described in the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP) 2022-23 Executive Summary section below.  Please contact Rob Watson, SAM Executive Director (samrw@sammt.org), if you have questions about this report or the SAM LPLP.

Collaboration, relationship building and networking have created an outstanding opportunity for Montana education administrators to support their professional learning.  School Administrators of Montana, the Montana Office of Public Instruction, Governor Bullock, Montana University System Ed Leadership Programs, Department of Administration, and individual Montana business partners, working together, launched the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP) in 2013-14!  Now in its ninth year, the program for 2022-23 combined the research on successes of the SAM 21st Century Leadership Institute and the SAM Mentor Program to provide a unique opportunity for Montana administrators to receive one-on-one coaching/mentoring; innovative, focused, personalized, blended professional learning including a rich online resource center; and collaboration through collegial learning networks focused on specific topics of study.  Since its inception, the SAM LPLP has served to improve professional learning for more than 600 district and school administrators in our state!

Overview and History

What is the SAM LPLP?

• An innovative approach to professional learning for new, experienced, and aspiring Montana education administrators.
• A combination of personalized learning networks through coaching/mentoring, rich online resource center, and collaboration through collegial learning networks; the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program is unlike any program available today.  
• SAM, the Montana Office of Public Instruction, Montana University System Ed Leadership Programs, the Department of Administration and individual Montana business partners have worked together to support a cost effective model for Montana’s school administrators to participate in this innovative professional learning opportunity.
• You can review the program details at http://www.sammt.org/leaders-professional-learning-program

Why do we need the SAM LPLP?

• Montana has had over 100 administrative positions open each spring of 2014 - 2022, so there are nearly 900 administrators new to their positions in our schools over the past 9 years.
• Research and common sense reveal that mentoring is a major key to building leadership capacity and those who are mentored exhibit greater success and retention than those who are not.
• Montana administrators are committed to their school and community and there are ever increasing demands on their time to meet the needs.  Professional learning is an area that gets placed on the back burner when it should be up front for effective problem solving.
• Research and common sense show that the most powerful professional learning is inquiry-based, aligned to real-world applications, and embedded in the work environment.

So how did the SAM LPLP happen?

• SAM’s strategic plan goals for professional development led to seeking innovative ways to meet the professional learning needs of Montana administrators.
• Seeking innovation led to great people working in this environment –

• Godfrey Saunders for mentoring
• Tom Unwin for innovative, project-based learning

• A year of research and project development led to launching a pilot Mentor Program and 21st Century Leadership Institute (21 CLI) in 2013-14.
• Those administrators participating in the pilot programs provided great insight for creating the LPLP.
• Lessons learned from the LPLP 2013-14 were incorporated into the SAM LPLP 2014-15, and this improvement process has continued each subsequent year.  Review the success of these program years in the following summaries:  SAM LPLP 2014-15 Executive Summary, SAM LPLP 2015-16 Executive Summary,  SAM LPLP 2016-17 Executive Summary, SAM LPLP 2017-18 Executive Summary, SAM LPLP 2018-19 Executive Summary, SAM LPLP 2019-20 Executive Summary, SAM LPLP 2020-21 Executive Summary, and SAM LPLP 2021-22 SAM Executive Summary.

Putting Lessons Learned into Action

• Seek highly qualified Montana administrators who can serve a region of the state as an LPLP Provider.  All Providers from 2021-22 continued their service to the program in 2022-23 with the addition of Tobin Novasio and Kirk Miller serving as a new Providers.
• Partner with resource providers to gain access to the best resources.
• Train the LPLP Providers so they are able to connect LPLP Members to necessary resources in the most effective, efficient ways.  Provider trainings took place on a regular basis with LPLP Provider monthly web meetings and trainings.
• Build relationships for effective communication so that all involved can learn from each other.  A key to the success of the LPLP is the relationship built between the Members and their Provider.
• Create an opportunity for LPLP Members to collaborate with like-minded Montana administrators around specific education topics through the development of Collegial Learning Networks.
• Promote the program platform so that Montana administrators will seek to enhance their professional learning.
• Create opportunities for LPLP Members to participate in thought-leader webinar sessions focused on a timely topic and connect with Providers and LPLP Members through the development of monthly SAM LPLP Huddles.

LPLP Directors and Providers

• Tom Unwin – Program Director/Resource Center Development, President/CEO of JK Thomas & Associates an international professional learning provider for educators.
• Jeff Blessum - retired Superintendent  
• Jason Butcher – Reach Higher Montana Outreach Director and retired Superintendent
• Rick Duncan – Superintendent at Powell County High School and Deer Lodge Elementary School Districts
• Dr. Daniel Farr – Adjunct professor at Montana State University and retired Superintendent
• Tammy Lacey – Former Chairperson of the Board of Public Education and retired Superintendent
• Dr. Kirk Miller - Retired Superintendent, former SAM Executive Director
• Brad Moore – Assistant Superintendent at Havre Public Schools
• Dr. Gerry Nolan – retired Superintendent and currently serving as Interim Superintendent at Vaughn Schools
• Tobin Novasio - Superintendent at Lockwood Public Schools
• Dr. Darlene Schottle – Former Chairperson of the Montana Board of Public Education and retired Superintendent
• Sue Sweeney – retired Principal

Great educators, experienced administrators, trained with the best research by our program directors, OPI partners, and the MUS Education Leadership program partners.

Investments made by Partners Who Believe in the SAM LPLP!

• Leaders in Governor Bullock’s office, OPI, and the department of administration have supported education leaders and the critical role they play in Montana communities; saw the vision of the SAM LPLP, and committed to investing in the professional learning of Montana’s administrators.
• Montana University System.  Educational Leadership Programs and Departments of Education support the SAM LPLP by lending their expertise and resources.  Montana GEAR UP partnership connects Administrators in GEAR UP schools with leadership training through the SAM LPLP.
• Montana businesses and private donors support the program because of the impacts the LPLP has on their community. NorthWestern Energy Community Works are business sponsors of the SAM LPLP.
• In 2017-18, Blue Cross Blue Shield was added as a SAM LPLP business sponsor.  
• In 2017-18, a US Department of Education Title II Grant through the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) was awarded to support the SAM LPLP.  The Principle Partner in the grant is the Montana State University College of Education and Department of Educational Leadership.  
• In 2018-19, the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and MREA/MCS were added as a SAM LPLP business sponsors.  
• In 2022-23, SAM business partner BetterLesson expanded the partnership to include BetterLesson resource access to all SAM LPLP Provider.  

LPLP by the Numbers

• 15 is the number of partners who have assisted SAM in funding the program to make it possible for school districts to support the program and allow their administrators to participate in the program.  The SAM LPLP Partners are – OPI and Governor Bullock’s office assisted in receiving a Department of Administration grant that allowed the SAM LPLP to launch in 2014-15 and continue in 2015-16.  Support from OPI Special Education Department, Montana GEAR UP, Educational Leadership Programs at MSU, UM, and Rocky Mountain College, NorthWestern Energy Community Works, and an anonymous donor have continued.  2017-18 brought additional contributions from a US Department of Education Title II Grant, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and OPI Accreditation Department (Educator Performance Appraisal System - EPAS), 2018-19 brought additional contributions from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and MREA/MCS, and 2022-23 brought expanded resources to LPLP Providers through a partnership with BetterLesson.
• $500 is the investment for a participant to be in the LPLP Program.
• 170+ administrators and education leaders across Montana participated in the SAM Administrators Institute 2022, Did You Know…Telling Your Story of Innovation.  A focus on the LPLP program included a session where 40+ administrators new to their positions from across the state participated in the launch of SAM LPLP 2022-23 and induction to resources available for education leaders.  
• 1 Program Director coordinated the work with Providers and program participants (members) –Tom Unwin – Program Director/Resource Center Development/Provider.
• 11 LPLP Providers provided services to program members throughout the state.
• 67 Administrators in the LPLP Program.  Click HERE to view a roster of 2022-23 LPLP Members.
• 5 Collegial Learning Networks (CLNs) were established for the 2022-23 program year.  Each CLN has Lead Provider who coordinates efforts to maintain programming for each CLN. The following CLNs are currently operating within the SAM LPLP:  

• New/Aspiring Superintendent – a group of district leaders new to their positions.  The Montana Association of School Superintendents (MASS) believes strongly in the effectiveness of SAM LPLP and wants to invest financially in the success of their members. In 2018, MASS elected to pay the program fee for superintendents new to their positions, a practice they have continued each program year. The common purpose they all share is to improve student learning through effective leadership practices provided through implementation of an induction model along with mentor support services.
• New Principal – a group of school leaders new to their positions. The common purpose they all share is to improve student learning through effective leadership practices provided through the implementation of an induction model along with mentor support services.
• Social Emotional Learning – a group of district and school leaders dedicated to implementing effective social and emotional learning practices in their schools. The common purpose they all share is to improve student learning through the application of social & emotional learning strategies in their classrooms.
• Transformational Learning – a group of district and school leaders dedicated to implementing transformational learning practices and the leadership of these practices in their schools. The common purpose they all share is to improve student learning through the application of personalized learning strategies in classrooms and schools.  During the fall of 2020, TL CLN Members worked on preparing applications to receive grant monies made possible through the passage of House Bill 351:  a bill providing incentives for school districts to implement transformational learning.  The application process continues each year.  
• AASA Learning 2025 - This partnership between SAM and AASA provides a select group of Montana school districts the opportunity to utilize extensive resources that provide an opportunity for school districts to develop innovative practices over a two year cycle. The AASA Learning 2025 CLN is intended for Montana school districts who have well developed strategic plans and continuous education improvement plans as well as leadership with extensive experience in working with the school and community implementing these plans.  The goal is to help district leadership teams create well-articulated, customized, and personalized action plans that meet the district goals and support their implementation of a positive vision for all learners.  

• All 67 LPLP members are participating in at least one CLN.  
• 67 Administrators in the LPLP 2022-23 brings the cumulative participation to 612 Montana school and district leaders who have enhanced their professional learning through the SAM LPLP since its inception in 2013-14.
  

SAM LPLP 2022-23 Year End Executive Summary

Services and Participation Summary

This summary is prepared to indicate the participation of Administrators in the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP) 2022-23.  The Report includes:

• Administrators who participated in the LPLP program
• Dates of services i.e. webinars, meetings, etc…. between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023
• Hours (to the nearest .25 hour) of service per session
• A brief description of each service

The SAM LPLP Program 2022-23 has 67 Montana Administrators participating in the program. Eleven experienced Montana administrators are serving as Providers (mentor/coaches) working with Members in the MASS regions of the state.  A breakdown of the participants looks like this …

The services provided with date and description, include:

• SAM Administrators Institute 2022, LPLP Summit, July 25, 2022, 3.5 hours.  All Montana school administrators were invited to this orientation, introduced to the resources and program benefits available to them, introduced to the SAM LPLP program and CLN overview, and met with the SAM LPLP Providers and experienced administrators.
• SAM Administrators Institute 2022, Instructional Leadership Summit, July 25-27, 2022, 18 hours.  The Summit (Did You Know…Telling Your Story of Innovation) featured Dr. Bill Daggett (Restoring Balance to Schools While Preparing Students for

Their Future), Dr. Angela McLean (Montana Educator Recruitment and Retention Panel), Dr. David Schuler (Redefining Ready to Learning 2025: College, Career and Life Readiness and Student - Center Equity - Focused Education), Shawna Heiser (Reaching and Teaching Neurodiverse Students:  Positive Approaches To Classroom Management), Andy Laue/Lee Starck (Activate Resilience Training: Sustaining Resilience In the Public School System), and 18 breakout sessions on a variety of topics of interest to school and district administrators focusing on Recruitment and Retention; Social, Emotional and Behavioral Health, and Innovations in Learning.  Attendees were also able to access all conference session recordings and resources following the conference.

• MCEL (Montana Virtual Conference on Educational Leadership) 2022, October 19-21, 2022, 14 hours.  MCEL includes opportunities for professional learning for Montana administrators, school board trustees, and business managers.  One session was dedicated to the SAM LPLP and was intended for all SAM members to engage in dialogue around student achievement in their schools and districts.
• SAM Affiliate Conferences, various dates in 2022-23, generally 9-12 hours.  Conferences are an opportunity for SAM LPLP Members to meet with their Provider, CLN Members to meet as a group, and for all Members to continue progress on their personalized professional learning plans and network with others while having access to conference presentations and breakout sessions.  
• Member Application of Elements, discussed with Provider, happens throughout the year, can be as little as 15 minutes up to as much time both Member and Provider find necessary.  Providers use multiple means of communication to meet the needs of their Members.  Each situation and communication is unique.  Providers log this data to determine common opportunities and challenges.
• LPLP Collegial Learning Network (CLN) Work, happens throughout the year, face to face and virtually.  Meetings range from as little as 15 minutes up to as much time Members and Lead Provider find necessary.  CLN Members work productively with the CLN Lead Provider and their own Provider on specific topics to improve student learning. In addition, the following webinars were held during the 2022-23 program year:

• New/Aspring Superintendent CLN

• Leadership Strategies - Dr. David Schuler
• Personnel Issues - Pat Strauss
• Negotiations - Andy Sever
• Wrapping Up Evaluations and Making Decisions About Non-Tenured Teachers - Bea Kaleva

•  New Principals CLN

• Feedback and Observation-Supporting Teachers through Next Steps
• Winter Benchmarking
• Students, Staff, and Anxiety
• Growing Our Own:  Helping Our New (and veteran) Teachers Succeed and Stay in the Field
• Montana Principal Year End Checklist

• Social Emotional Learning CLN

• Cook Center for Human Connection
• Launching Montana’s New SEL Competencies – Melissa Tovaas

• Transformational Learning CLN

• Transformation Learning Grant and Montana Advanced Opportunities Grant Information – Krystal Smith
• Transformation Learning at Havre Public Schools – Brad Moore
• Transformational Learning at Kalispell Public Schools – Matt Jensen/Peter Fusaro
• Transformational Learning at Reed Point Schools – Heather Jarrett

• SAM LPLP Huddle, monthly one-hour virtual discussions between SAM LPLP Members, Providers, and the SAM Office. Each Huddle features monthly calendar items and resource update, a thought-leader session around a timely topic, and discussion.  Topics included Role-a-like Discussions; SEL for Leaders, Community Engagement, Benefits of Mentoring, Preliminary Budget Data Sheets, How to Manage Conflict, and School-Based Mental Health Programs.

Progress Summary

The SAM LPLP 2022-23 Year End Data Collection Report consists of 1512 entries and over 12,000 data elements.  The report indicates the number of hours the Providers have spent in contact with their Members as of June 30, 2023 – 1115.40 hours.  The report also shows the estimated application time recorded by the 67 Members as of June 30, 2023– 1175.50 hours, resulting in a total of 2290.90 hours. Provider’s assessment of those contacts indicated a 4.89 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest. Note that the commitment of the 67 SAM LPLP Members is an average of more than 34 hours for each LPLP Member during the first half of the 2022-23 year to improve student learning through participation in the SAM LPLP.  

Review of the SAM LPLP 2022-23 Year End Provider Reflection Report provides a description of the progress the Providers made with their LPLP Members during the first two quarters this year.  The Providers assessed their progress over the first half of the year at 4.59 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest.  

With the assistance of the HELPS (Human Ecology Learning and Problem Solving) Lab at Montana State University, new SAM LPLP Member and Provider surveys were implemented for the 2017-18 program year.  The surveys were adapted to serve the current needs and implemented for the 2022-23 program year.

Provider Survey

Based on the Provider Survey results all Providers understood their responsibilities, found their Member/Provider relationship to be positive, felt their time spent with Members to be beneficial, saw improvement in their Members, and rated their Members to be engaged in the program.  The Provider Survey Written Feedback provides additional survey data.

Member Survey

Members (23 of 67 Members; a 34% response rate) rated their satisfaction with the program overall, their work with a Provider, the use of the Resource Center, and their work with Collegial Learning Networks.  

Based on the Member Survey results, a significant majority of respondents found that due to their participation in SAM LPLP their professional network expanded (91%), communication with staff improved (70%), understanding of Montana school policies and procedures increased (91%), their ability to implement collaborative strategies improved (70%), their ability to complete projects has improved (74%), and progress was made on their personalized professional learning plan (65%). The following are samples of the responses provided by Members when asked about their experience participating in SAM LPLP:

• I am grateful I have been able to be a part of the learning program. My mentor has been an important part of my professional growth as a new leader in a school district.
• I am grateful to be part of SAM and have the strong support through the amazing LPLP!
• This is a tremendous resource for administrators.  I had such wonderful support from Tammy that I'm unsure how to improve it.  One the best parts with working with Tammy is how she always conveyed that she cared and wanted to work toward finding a solution or getting my head in the right place to make a good choice.  Her knowledge, experience, and intelligence are an incredible set of talents that have helped me get through as tough of a year as I have had in education.  Thank you Tammy!!! PS. Can I have her again next year in my new school??
• Thank you for providing this resource.

Work with a Provider

Eighty-seven percent of Members who completed the survey worked with a Provider and 100% enjoyed the experience.  All felt that working with a Provider was beneficial (100%), they learned from their Provider (100%), developed a sense of trust with their Provider (95%), grew as a professional because of their Provider (95%), and received meaningful feedback from their Provider (95%).  

By choosing to participate in SAM LPLP and to work with a Provider, Members have the opportunity to confide in, ask questions of, and collaborate with an experienced administrator when faced with issues that affect the Member’s school, district, and/or community.  Compelling evidence of the positive outcome possible through the Mentor/Provider relationship is apparent in the Member testimonials. The following responses were provided by Members when asked what they like best about working with a SAM LPLP Provider present additional confirmation of the importance of such a relationship:

• Always available to answer my questions and give advice when challenges arose.
• I could call or text when I needed advice.
• He was very knowledgable about various administrator topics. Great pairing.
• Having an experienced person I was able to contact when I had situations I wasn't sure how to handle.
• Having a support in place to call when I needed guidance on different situations that came up during the year.
• I really thought I had a good balance of contact with my provider. She was always thoughtful with her answers and is exceptional at listening.  This program is so wonderful!
• They gave me great perspective and at times help alleviate some anxiety about situations that arose when I began in administration.
• The ability to discuss challenges and receive meaningful feedback.
• His experience and expertise. I had a rough two years in my current school and really needed validation and affirmations. Gerry absolutely provided that. His guidance was instrumental in some big decisions I've made this year.

Research Questions

Considering the goal of SAM LPLP - to provide intentional, personalized professional learning to Montana educators through research-based strategies resulting in improvements in job satisfaction, administrator longevity, and ultimately to increased student achievement and quality of instruction - data was gathered around the following research questions:  

Due to my participation in SAM LPLP…

• my satisfaction with my current position has increased.  (48% of respondents agree)
• I am likely to continue serving in my current position.  (48% of respondents agree)
• student learning has been positively impacted.  (48% of respondents agree)
• the collaborative capacity of my school or district has been positively impacted.  (57% of respondents agree)

Where Do We Go from Here?

The SAM Board of Directors committed support to continue the SAM LPLP in 2023-24 and to assess providing the program in the future.  The goal of providing high quality, embedded, professional learning meeting the needs of Montana’s district and school leaders is the focus of this effort.  Expanding the dialogue to enhance the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program to serve the needs of new, experienced, and aspiring Montana administrators with educational partners in our state and across the nation, SAM LPLP 2023-24 will incorporate all that has been learned about effective professional learning and personalizing learning to impact the administrator’s ability to improve student learning.

Changes (enhancements) incorporated into the SAM LPLP 2023-24 include:

• Continue to seek highly qualified Montana administrators who can serve a region of the state as an LPLP Provider.  Continue to provide additional training to equip LPLP Providers with the necessary tools for coaching/mentoring and continue to strengthen the Provider’s knowledge of contemporary issues in education so they can connect LPLP Members to necessary resources in the most effective, efficient ways.  The primary focus of SAM LPLP 2023-24 will be on individual coaching/mentoring.
• The AASA Learning 2025 Collegial Learning Network will continue into the 2023-24 program year to connect Members with the resources offered through AASA Learning 2025 with a goal to help district leadership teams create well-articulated, customized, and personalized action plans that meet the district goals and support their implementation of a positive vision for all learners.

• Continue to be cognizant of and research methods to assist SAM LPLP Members with the challenge of dedicating time to focus on their professional learning.  Use the goals set by each Member in their Personalized Professional Learning Plan as a guide to provide structure to the Member’s learning process.
• Continue to schedule times for Members to connect both face to face and virtually with their Providers and colleagues to continue to strengthen the learning relationships and to develop regularly scheduled virtual thought leader sessions in which members may join in real time and also have access to after each session.  The SAM LPLP Huddle will be scheduled quarterly and will focus on pertinent topics aligned with the current needs of Members.
• Continue to investigate the compelling evidence around educator retention discovered through the research questions.  

This Executive Summary provides important professional learning information and insight for Montana education.  Support of high quality professional learning for educational leaders in Montana is critical to the success of our schools and the students served.  Thank you for the support and commitment to the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Rob Watson, Ed.D.

SAM Executive Director

Kim Scofield

Director of Professional Learning and Member Services