Dee brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her students at our North Austin Campus. Seeking to further refine her professional acumen, she recently completed the PROPEL program, an initiative designed to foster a deeper understanding of leadership dynamics and a “whole-campus” awareness. She entered the program with clear expectations for collaborative discussion and strategic planning.
“When joining propel my thoughts were that we were going to be focused on how to be a better leader, how we can take steps to go into leadership,” Dee shares. “I thought it was a chance for us to talk as a group what it was, and what it means to become a leader.” The experience provided a comprehensive platform to explore the multifaceted responsibilities of modern educational leadership.
Cultivating Campus-Wide Awareness
The PROPEL curriculum delved into diverse leadership styles, effective conflict resolution, and the critical elements that define an impactful mentor. Dee particularly valued the opportunity to hear different viewpoints from her peers, reinforcing principles she champions in her own teaching and student support roles.
“I am not going to lie, I loved the program and am excited to see its next chapters,” she states. “I think it helped me see things from a different prospective what the leaders have to know and go through, which was very insightful.”
Self-Reflection and Continuous Growth
A pivotal moment during the program was the segment focused on self-assessment, which provided valuable personal feedback for ongoing professional development.
“There are many moments that I appreciated, one that stands out to me the most is when we took the tests that helped us identify who we are, or our traits,” Dee reflects. “It gave me great personal feedback, and let me understand what I needed to work on and be more mindful in.”
Dee actively applied these concepts, engaging her colleagues in discussions about workplace situations and encouraging them to think critically about leadership principles. “I believe that it did. I tried to actually take what is being taught and apply it,” she explains. Her enthusiasm for ongoing education remains a driving force in her career: “ABSOLUTELY! To be honest I would like to do propel again due to the fact it helps when you hear the information over and over, just to improve who you are constantly.”
