Who is it for?

Leadership Enrichment and Development (LEAD) is designed to foster and support leadership capacity in school support staff. School support staff play a significant role in assisting students reach the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. In LEAD, participants explore their strengths and weaknesses in the context of leadership. School counselors, school librarians, and other school support staff are encouraged to apply.

LEAD explores shared challenges with an in-depth examination of the knowledge and skills necessary for effective leadership. The program helps participants to take a fresh look at how they influence those around them and the benefits of having a vision for their leadership that they can share to inspire action in others. Participants learn about leadership in three focus areas: personalization, collective leadership, and equitable access to effective instruction.

What does it look like?

Support staff enrolled in LEAD focus on leadership principles, understanding the impact of change management, school culture, and creating an inclusive community. Participants explore these concepts by engaging in courageous conversations, considering the lens of emotional intelligence, and reflecting on multiple leadership assessments. Book studies and evolving research on instructional best practices are weaved throughout the sessions to model learner-centered instruction. All participants have opportunities to reflect and share their learning. Strategies to support equitable access, collective leadership and personalized learning are modeled over the course of the cohort. All LEAD participants complete a micro-credential and an approved field study.

What are people saying?

LEAD participants shared:

• “Anyone can be a leader!”
• “Leadership is an actively strategic endeavor.”
• “My biggest takeaway has been talking about being an influencer. It really put leadership in a different perspective.”

What do you need to know?

There is no fee for this course, but the participants or their schools or districts are responsible for travel and lunch on your own. Each session runs from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with an hour for lunch. Principal permission is required prior to the first session. Attendance and a laptop are required for all sessions. Participants are eligible for 120 renewal credits upon completion of all sessions and required work.

Registration is open for the 2025-26 cohorts that begin in June 2025. Applications will be processed and considered in the order in which they are received.

Contact: Keasha Grant, ksgrant@ed.sc.gov

LEAD Cohort Sessions

Please select a cohort preference and register only once for either cohort.

Registration deadline for LEAD is May 23, 2025. The cohorts will be closed once enrollment reaches 30 people each.  Applications will be processed and considered in the order in which they are received.

All face-to-face session will be held at the South Carolina Department of Education. 

The Office of Leadership Effectiveness (OLE) covers the cost of the program. Travel, meals, and/or lodging costs are not included. Renewal credits are awarded with successful completion of the program.