At Hemet Unified School District we don’t only want our students to continue their educational journey, we also encourage our educators to continue to broaden their knowledge. Four Hemet Unified administrators were a part of the first cohort to graduate from the National Institute for School Leadership’s (NISL) Executive Development Program in California. This program is solely dedicated to strengthening an educator’s instructional leadership and raise student achievement.
Rancho Viejo Middle School’s Principal Jonathon Workman, Tahquitz High School’s Principal Eric Dahlstrom, Diamond Valley Middle School’s Principal Robert Dominguez, and Director of Professional Development Tracy Chambers were among 22 participants in NISL’s first graduating class.
Throughout the program educators were taught how to create a strong school culture, given best practices in coaching and teacher supervision, and taught how to create exemplary school-wide programs in English, Mathematics, and Science. “I feel like I have a better understanding of the urgency that exists in public education and how to be a better strategic thinker, risk taker, and equitable leader,” said Workman when he described his experience in the program.
Robert Dominguez said this was one of the best professional development programs he has attended. Participants were exposed to understanding current research on the brain, the importance of developing a vision for your school, and school organization. He said the experience made him feel better prepared to lead Diamond Valley into the 21st century.
“As a district, our main focus is to provide programs and initiatives that will benefit our students, and a program like this is surely to have an everlasting effect on our school climate and student achievement,” said Superintendent Christi Barrett.
Congratulations to the four Hemet Unified staff members for being a part of the first graduating class from NISL’s Executive Development Program!