Portrait of a Leader

A shared vision for the skills educators need to drive innovation and lead education systems change through personalized, competency-based learning. By elevating these attributes, the Lead for Learners network aims to support, grow and celebrate the development of education leaders – from the classroom to the district level.

The Portrait of a Leader defines the attributes necessary for educators to effectively and sustainably lead systems change. Rooted in the principles of personalized, competency-based learning and collaborative, human-centered approaches, the Portrait serves as a guide for the qualities that will empower educators to drive innovation and make a lasting impact. The Portrait of a Leader is more than a set of leadership skills; it’s a collective vision for the qualities needed to lead education into the future.

Cover to Portrait of a Leader, Shades of bright pink fading to sky blue with circle in the same color palette across it, some of the circles have portraits of adults

Download the Portrait of a Leader

Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Download the Portrait of a Leader to explore the attributes and reflect on your personal leadership development.

Webinar: 5 Skills Educators Need

Education leaders from Nevada, Arizona and Texas explore the Portrait of a Leader and its role in professional growth and development in this webinar.

A group of educators gather by posters on the wall for brainstorming

Leadership for Personalized, Competency-based Learning

Learn more about the collaborative creation of the Portrait of a Leader at Aurora Institute.

Three women of varying ages and race examine a chart on the wall with sticky notes attached

Skills and Mindsets for Transformational Leadership

The efforts of engaging multiple groups to ensure that the Portrait of a Leader reflected the shared traits of those leading through personalized, competency-based learning.

As a steering committee, we recognized a pressing need for a unifying framework to guide the development of leaders equipped to manage transformational change in a sustainable and human-centered way. This resource meets that need. It is a call to action and a roadmap.

Estrada
Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Arizona
Lead for Learners Network Steering Committee Member

Insights from the Field

Illustration of two adults sitting at a table together, with a computer in from of them

Five Essentials for Collaborative Leadership

Advancing the shift towards authentic learning with collaboration and what it takes to lead these efforts effectively

Read More »
people with notebooks and clipboards at a bulletin board with papers pinned to it, smiling at the camera

Why – and How – Educators Learn Best from Each Other

Learning communities across the country share what drives educators in peer learning opportunities.

Read More »
two smiling children looking at a book in a classroom setting

What Standards-based Grading Looks Like in a Kindergarten Classroom

With the support of their teacher, kindergarteners in this Arizona elementary school understand the standards they’re working through.

Read More »
a purple topographic map with one yellow line connecting three points

The Power of Seeing Education Innovation in Person

District leaders share insights into the best ways to scale personalized, competency-based learning.

Read More »
Spaceship flying up to the right along a bar graph on a bright blue background.

Five Ways to Spread Personalized Learning Practices

Five ways to spread personalized learning beyond your core team and create buy-in for learner-centered practices.

Read More »
pins on a calendar

Why It’s Important to Align Your Master Schedule to Your Vision

Reconsidering the master schedule as an element in how you realize your vision for teaching and learning

Read More »