Central office leaders centering student voice

Central office leaders play an essential role in creating the conditions for student-centered school leaders to learn and grow.

Central office leaders play an essential role in creating the conditions for student-centered school leaders to learn and grow.

In this webinar, you will hear from our central office leader partners from Springfield Public Schools in Oregon and Columbus City Schools in Ohio. These leaders shared how they’ve been shifting leadership practices across district teams by listening to and learning from students.

Shifting Practices to Center Students

• Clarifying the vision. Both districts built a shared understanding of what success looks like for their students. This vision is communicated clearly and consistently across all levels of leadership.
• Listening to students. Leaders are prioritizing feedback directly from students—through listening sessions, one-on-one conversations, and surveys—to understand their experiences and identify barriers to learning.
• Equity at the center. By examining how their practices impact historically marginalized students, these districts are making thoughtful, targeted improvements.
• Building strong partnerships. Collaboration within the central office and between district and school leaders is intentional and grounded in shared goals.

Lessons Learned

Both Springfield and Columbus leaders shared valuable lessons for others looking to center student voices in their leadership practices:

• Align beliefs and practices. Ensure teaching and learning practices align with a cohesive vision for the student experience.
• Create coherence. Be clear and intentional about the vision; ground the work in research-based strategies.
• Collaborate with purpose. Build relationships where teams actively learn and problem-solve together.
• Stay focused. Even with competing priorities, keep student success as the north star.

Learn More

If you’re interested in how central office leadership can drive meaningful school improvement, visit our Principal Supervisor Professional Learning and Coaching page. CEL partners with leaders to build capacity and create aligned systems that support every student’s success.