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Participants check-in and receive an event packet, room location information, and other important conference materials.

Join presenters and other attendees for a light breakfast and coffee prior to beginning the morning sessions.

Quint Studer is the Founder of Studer Group, Inc. and a proponent of Evidence-Based Leadership℠ (EBL). EBL creates a culture of execution that empowers organizations to move quickly and effectively.  Quint has been called a ‘fire starter’ for igniting the flame in each of us to be the best that we can be and to “always” connect back to purpose. His keynote address will encourage “fire starting” in attendees’ schools and districts. Not only does Studer talk about EBL and continuous improvement, but he has done it – working with healthcare organizations nationwide who have won multiple performance awards.  Studer Group was the recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2010 and for 6 consecutive years – the last 3 being in the top 10 – was named one of the Best Small and Medium Workplaces in the United States by Great Place to Work®. Studer is the forerunner in connecting employee engagement, leadership development, the use of analytics and strong accountability to demonstrate how each builds a sustainable culture of high performance.  He currently is part of the 21st Healthcare Leadership Curriculum Task Force at Harvard Business School. Quint has served as a Board Member at the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Quint has served as a Think Tank Panelist at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in Washington D.C. and is a Faculty in Residence at George Washington University. Studer’s first book, Hardwiring Excellence, is still one of the most widely read books in the history of healthcare leaders, has sold over 700,000 copies and is published in 4 different languages.  He has written 5 other books with a focus on leadership, how to be a great employee and patient care.  Studer has had books on The Wall Street Journal’s best seller list as well as Business Weekly.  His webinars, videos, presentations and onsite training sessions have led to his being named, numerous times, as one of the most powerful people in healthcare. Quint’s healthcare career began in a 35 bed specialty hospital and has now spanned over 29 years. He has worked as a supervisor, manager, department director, vice president, senior vice president, chief operating officer and president of a large hospital.  This provided a wide array of experience in physician integration, managed care, patient care and overall operational experience in four different organizations. His methodology and Evidence-Based Leadership℠ is now practiced worldwide in countries such as Ethiopia, Australia and Canada. Watch Quint Studer outline Evidence-Based Leadership in this brief video. Learn more about Quint Studer in this 30-minute television interview; he shares his personal story as well as his work transforming leadership and customer service in health care. A break will follow Mr. Studer’s presentation.

Dr. JoAnn Sternke is the superintendent of the Pewaukee School District (PSD), which was named a 2013 recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest presidential honor given to American organizations for performance excellence. PSD is only the seventh public school district to receive the award. Dr. Sternke will share how today’s leaders can approach the challenges of our field with innovative, problem-solving strategies that will ensure the success of every student. PSD’s aspiration for every student is apparent in the 314 staff members employed by PSD. From educators and administrators to custodians and food service staff, the growth and well-being of students is the primary focus of every department’s and school’s effort to continually improve. From school transition programs to curriculum revisions, improvement is supported by data to provide an environment of learning where students’ needs are considered not only academically, but holistically to support learning and growth. Dr. Sternke has served as the superintendent of PSD for over 13 years; she was recognized as the Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year in 2013. PSD results include having one of the highest graduation rates in the state of Wisconsin from 2008 through 2013. The ACT composite score for PSD students is 23.4, higher than the average score in Wisconsin and across the nation. During Dr. Sternke’s tenure, the percent of PSD graduates attending two or four year colleges increased from 70% to 93%. Dr. Sternke’s doctoral degree is in leadership, learning and service through Cardinal Stritch University, where she also serves as a professor and site coordinator for the Masters in Educational Leadership Program and Superintendent Licensure Program. Learn more about PSD here, including a short video introduction.  Watch an earlier presentation from Dr. Sternke at WRIE 2013.

Dr. Patricia Greco is the superintendent of the School District of Menomonee Falls (SDMF). Menomonee Falls is a suburban district located on the Northwest Side of Milwaukee. The school system has a strong tradition of excellence and is focused on being best in class among the nation’s schools. Dr. Greco and her team focus strategic efforts on strengthening their ability to connect with each learner, personalizing the learning experience, and maximizing connections to all available resources. By applying a unique combination of educational and business techniques, SDMF is rapidly becoming known as an educational innovator. The goal of the district is “to be service driven, learner centered, and focused on creating a remarkable future.” Dr. Greco will discuss how SDMF has organized varying frameworks and systems into a coherent and effective approach to continuous improvement. At the classroom level, improvements are driven by teachers applying the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. For school and district-level leaders, the focus is on learning and implementing the Evidence-Based Leadership framework. Dr. Greco has integrated Six Sigma and other business training into the district’s continuous improvement systems. The Carnegie Foundation conducted a full case study of SDMF’s work based on the improvement and performance, focus on service, and the culture of the learning community. As a result of these efforts, SDMF’s achievement is at an all-time high. The district is among the top in their county for the number of students taking college-level articulated classes with Waukesha County Technical College. The ACT participation rate is impressive and SDMF students average a 23.1 composite score on that national benchmark. Dr. Greco received her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1995. Currently, she is serving the US Department of Education on the Digital Promise, Carnegie Foundation on Improvement Science Research and she serves on the Educational Research Development Institute working with business leaders focused on research in the educational field. Great information about SDMF can be found here. Read Dr. Greco’s article on “a system for learning” in the December, 2013 issue of Wisconsin School News. Check out the valuable information Dr. Greco and her team presented at WRIE 2013.

Three outstanding educators and friends of education from Studer Education partner school districts will be recognized for their commitment to continuous improvement and for their achievement of excellent results.

Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent of Arlington Independent School District in Texas, and Jamie Sullins, Board Vice President, will discuss their rationale for choosing to apply the EBL K12^SM framework and the lessons they’ve learned through the first year of implementation. Dr. Cavazos has taught and led in numerous Texas school districts, including the Mission Consolidated ISD, McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD and San Benito Consolidated ISD, prior to joining AISD as associate superintendent for instruction in 1999. Dr. Cavazos served as interim superintendent for six months before being named superintendent Dec. 6, 2012. He has previously served as a lecturer for the University of Texas at Arlington’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Texas – Pan American and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Jamie Sullins currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Trustees. In her Trustee tenure, she has served on the Strategic Plan Development Team, Audit Committee, Financial Futures Committee, Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Oil and Gas Reserve Committee, and as Board Assistant Secretary. Her nearly two decades of volunteer experience in Arlington schools include roles with PTA, Fine Arts and Athletic Booster Clubs, Site Based Decision-Making and Principal Selection Committees. Jamie is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Finance. Jamie served as Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis for a global aerospace firm before dedicating herself to community service and AISD. Listen to Dr. Cavazos discuss how data is applied in his district (from WRIE 2013).

How do school boards and superintendents set meaningful goals? What is the benefit of a district-wide scorecard showing progress on key priorities? Mr. Ardrey will share his learning as an experienced board leader in Janesville, WI. View the district scorecard for Janesville, posted on the district’s website for transparency and accountability. A break will follow Mr. Ardrey’s presentation.

Through quick mini-lessons, attendees will learn important EBL tactics from Studer Education coaches.

Dr. Karen Owen, Coach, Studer Education

In response to tough questions, leaders can often resort to the “we/they” excuse. It often sounds like this: “We’d like to support your new idea, but they won’t get behind it.” Rather than passing blame up the organizational ladder, learn how to “manage up” and present your supervisors and your organization positively in internal and external communication. Dr. Owen will introduce the benefits and techniques for managing up effectively.

Dr. Pilcher and Dr. Largue will facilitate individual reflection and whole-group discussion about participants’ take-aways from the conference.

Participants will complete an evaluation of the event and share final messages for the day.

New WRIE attendees will have the opportunity to extend their understanding of partnership with Studer Education and can discuss next steps with coaches. Coaches will also remain available for districts who have questions and/or request facilitation.