The Level Up Leadership Program seeks to elevate Wyoming’s education professionals by providing leadership development to an annual cohort of Wyoming educators. Upon completion of the program, these educators will be better prepared to tackle the daily challenges of providing an exceptional education to Wyoming students, and become leaders in their community.
This program will help education leaders build relationships that cross district lines, increase the knowledge of actions in other parts of the state, and help them develop strategies to continue to engage with their community.
The Level Up Leadership Cohort is composed of District Teachers of the Year (DTOY) and their principals, Milken Educator Award winners, and Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recipients and finalists.
Program Goals
Advocacy Training with State Policymakers
This program provides the cohort with training in public policy issues with an emphasis on education policy. Throughout this experience, participants learn how to create clarity to messaging and open lines of communication for change. The primary event for this goal is the Leadership StartUp Session to be held in Cheyenne during the legislative session. Participants learn how the legislature operates and how to use their voice to represent educators and students in their district.
Leadership Training with the Wyoming Military Department
The cohort goes through extensive leadership training with Wyoming’s military leaders. The primary event centered on this goal is the Wyoming Educator Leadership Rendezvous at the Wyoming Military Department’s Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center each August. This event will challenge assumptions and perceptions about education and military life and serve as the ultimate confidence and team-building exercise.
Continuous Improvement with the University of Wyoming College of Education
The program will help education leaders in the cohort continue to advance the craft, including instilling a growth mindset. Participants will be encouraged to share learning experiences with colleagues in the home school districts after learning from some of Wyoming’s most experienced education leaders. The primary event for this goal is the Next Level Summit held in September in Laramie. In addition, educators will engage in conversations about how rural educators need a larger physical network and how to partner with others to meet their needs, such as the business community.
