What is the Education Leadership Academy (ELA)?
ELA is a professional learning organization dedicated to developing educational leaders who think systemically, make informed decisions, and lead continuous improvement. ELA provides flexible, high-quality professional learning experiences focused on leadership, school improvement, resource allocation, workforce development, governance, digital learning, data use, and organizational effectiveness.
Who are ELA programs designed for?
ELA programs are designed for a wide range of educational professionals, including:
- Superintendents and central office leaders
- Principals and assistant principals
- Teacher leaders and instructional coaches
- Teachers
- Aspiring school and district administrators
- School board members
- Higher education professionals
- Legislators
- State policy makers
- Other leaders seeking to strengthen their knowledge of educational systems and leadership
What makes ELA different from other professional learning providers?
ELA differs from many professional learning providers in several important ways:
✅ Systems-Focused Perspective – ELA emphasizes how leadership decisions affect interconnected instructional, organizational, financial, human, and operational systems.
✅ Research-Based and Practice-Oriented – ELA experiences are fully informed by current scholarship. However, the experiences are practical rather than theoretical. They are designed to include real-world applications.
✅ Flexible Professional Learning – Most learning experiences are offered as one-hour modules that can be completed individually or accumulated over time.
✅ Professional Development Recognition – Participants earn a professional development certificate after completing each one-hour module.
✅ Stackable Learning Design – Individual modules may be combined to complete comprehensive leadership suites.
✅ Leadership Across Contexts – ELA focuses on transferable leadership knowledge and skills applicable across schools, districts, and educational organizations.
How are ELA learning experiences structured?
Most ELA suites consist of eight one-hour professional learning experiences. Participants may complete individual sessions based on their interests and needs or complete the full suite over a period of time.
Some specialized offerings, such as governance-focused programs for school board members, may contain fewer modules.
Do participants receive certificates?
Yes. Participants receive a certificate of professional development after successfully completing each professional learning experience. Additionally, participants who complete an entire suite of modules are eligible for a micro credential badge.
Are ELA programs self-paced?
Most ELA learning experiences are designed to provide flexibility for working professionals. Participants can engage with content according to their schedules while maintaining high expectations for participation and completion.
What topics does ELA address?
ELA offerings focus on topics such as:
- Educational leadership
- Strategic planning
- School improvement
- Education finance
- Resource allocation
- Workforce development
- Data-informed decision making
- Digital learning
- Artificial intelligence in education
- Improvement science
- Board governance
- Organizational effectiveness
What is the LEADS Framework?
The LEADS Framework serves as the foundational leadership model for ELA learning experiences:
- L – Learning Centered
- E – Equity Driven
- A – Adaptive & Future Ready
- D – Data Informed & Accountable
- S – Systemic & Sustainable
The framework helps leaders evaluate decisions through multiple leadership perspectives and encourages thoughtful, balanced decision making.
Can school districts or organizations partner with ELA?
Yes! ELA welcomes opportunities to collaborate with school districts, state agencies, professional associations, higher education institutions, and other educational organizations to support leadership development and organizational improvement. If you are interested in forming a partnership with ELA, contact us at [email protected].
Who leads the Education Leadership Academy?
The Education Leadership Academy is led by Dr. Jeffrey Maiden, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma and Director Emeritus of the Institute for the Study of Education Finance. Dr. Maiden has more than thirty years of experience in educational leadership, finance, technology leadership, research, administrator preparation, and consulting with state agencies, professional associations, and local school districts.
How can I learn more about ELA programs?
Additional information about ELA programs, learning suites, leadership frameworks, and upcoming offerings is available throughout this website. Participants are encouraged to explore available professional learning pathways and select experiences that align with their professional goals.
You can also contact ELA at [email protected]