Ensuring ‘All We Do, Every Single Day, Is Focused on Student Outcomes’
On July 19-20, the La Joya ISD participated in a Lone Star Governance workshop. The two-day training created a unified space for La Joya ISD board members, the Superintendent, and Cabinet leaders, to learn and prepare to implement school board and leadership behaviors that research shows improve student outcomes. Following the workshop Dr. Sorensen said the training can ensure “all we do, every single day, is focused on student outcomes.”
Lone Star Governance (LSG) provides a continuous improvement model for School Boards to work in collaboration with their Superintendent to better focus on a school district’s north star — improving student outcomes. LSG training is anchored in the five pillars of the Texas Framework for School Board Development. The five pillars are vision, accountability, structure, advocacy, and unity.
Chief of Staff, Joseph Niedziela, said about the five pillars, “Undergirding all of that knowledge is a belief that student outcomes won’t change until adult behaviors change. And that starts with looking at ourselves in the mirror.”
LSG training asks leaders to continuously reflect on their role and how their choices impact the lives of students. La Joya ISD’s Board and Dr. Sorensen are deeply committed to ensuring the District’s governing and leadership practices are a model of excellence for how to intensely focus on improving student outcomes.
Emphasizing the importance of LSG to the work ahead, Board President Julian Alvarez said, “The LSG training was a valuable experience for fostering collaboration among the school board, senior cabinet staff, and the Superintendent. Such alignment is crucial for creating a unified approach to improving student achievement & keeping our focus on student outcomes.”