KSS faculty member accepted into prestigious Emerging Leaders cohort
September 21, 2023 at 3:40 a.m.
A Port Chester educator has been deemed a leader with promise, allowing her access into a prestigious community that will ultimately come back to benefit the students.
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) announced on Sept. 6 the list of faculty that is joining a cohort of remarkable educators in its 2023 class of Emerging Leaders. Among the list of individuals from all over the world is Port Chester Schools’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) K-5 Instructional Support Specialist Elizabeth Baisley.
A relatively new initiative, the ASCD Emerging Leaders program was launched in 2022 and is designed to both recognize and foster development in rising leaders in education. Members of the cohort are given extensive resources to better their ability to educate, invitations to summits and conferences and other types of support provided by the organization.
Joining this exclusive group of less than 20 impressive individuals from all over the world is no easy task, something Baisley is well aware of.
“I was nominated in April by (Deputy Superintendent) Dr. Colleen Carroll,” she explained, “and had an application process where I had to answer questions, record a video based on a prompt, and through the summer they went through my file. It was very rigorous.”
After submitting a photo of herself in August, Baisley could do nothing but wait in anticipation until the decision was made public a month later.
When describing what she felt after being given the news that she was selected, Baisley was at a loss for words.
“There’s no great adjective to describe it,” she said. “If seventh-grade me could see me now, she’d be so proud.”
Being a leader in education has always been a goal for the SUNY Cortland graduate, and this recognition is proof that she’s headed in the right direction. But for now, she’s happy where she is.
Entering her third year as an Instructional Support Specialist for STEM at King Street Elementary School, Baisley is more of a teacher’s teacher than someone who interacts directly with students.
“I support teachers so that they have the tools that are necessary to support the students,” she went on to explain. “That can be anything from demonstrating a lesson to looking at data and helping them strategize so that students are getting the best possible instruction.”
Baisley’s enthusiasm is part of why Carroll nominated her.
As a longtime member of the ASCD, Carroll was made aware of the Emerging Leaders cohort, and Baisley was the candidate who sprung to mind—she described the decision as a “no-brainer.” Though she was quick to come up with a candidate, Carroll said the ASCD’s nomination procedure was just as in-depth as Baisley’s interview process.
“It was an extensive questionnaire all about why Elizabeth was a worthy choice as a nominee,” Carroll elaborated. “I was happy to do it, but it really felt like they were doing a detailed search for the right candidate.”
On top of recognizing her accomplishment on a personal level, both Dr. Carroll and Baisley are just as excited to see what the experience will bring to the Port Chester School District.
In October, the ASCD will host a leadership summit in Grapevine, Texas. Already intent on attending, Baisley is ready to implement everything she knows to better the quality of education of Port Chester students.
“It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about being a part of something that is pushing students to have success and be active participants in their community.”
Comments:
You must login to comment.