HYA Transition Academy
Navigating the Superintendent's Essential Work
Academy Information
The Transition Academy is a 6 month virtual program.
Navigating the Superintendent’s transition is critical, setting the tone for trust, stability, and momentum. A strong leader aligns priorities, minimizes disruption, and builds credibility. With experience in 2,000+ districts and a national network of education leaders, HYA goes beyond recruitment, offering research-based strategies and ongoing support to ensure leaders begin with the relationships and confidence needed for long-term success.
Length: 6 months
Sessions: One per month (virtually)
Content: Sessions are designed to live independently; all sessions are integral for success.
Consult: Virtual drop-in hours after each month’s session are available based on the session topic for the month
Deliverables: Participants in the Academy will produce four deliverables for the Board: a 100 day plan, KPIs to guide the district and share with constituents, an agreed upon evaluation, and an assessment of the current strategic plan.Â
Course Details
Cost: $4,500
Enrollment: Rolling
Instructor: Instructors are field experts who work with school districts nationwide, bringing practical experience in each session’s topic.
Time: 4 PST/5 MST/6 CST/7 EST – Sessions are 1.5 hoursÂ
Dates: Third Thursday of each month
2026-2027 Sessions
- July 16, 2026
- August 20, 2026
- September 17, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- December 17, 2026
Syllabus
Topics are designed to coincide with the school calendar. It is preferred to do sessions in order, however, each session is designed to be independent. This is a six month program that will produce four deliverables for the Board, essential work for any new leader: a 100 day plan, KPIs to guide the district and share with constituents, an agreed upon evaluation, and an assessment of the current strategic plan.
Prepping for Day 1
Before Your First Day – prerequisites before module 1
Gather all of the following files or URLs to be utilized in your personal transition plan. Â HYA will assist you in creating your own AI Assistant to synthesize all pertinent information:
- Leadership Profile from the search
- Current Strategic Plan
- Current Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Current Policies and Procedures
- Notes from your individual meetings with Board members
Your First Year
- July – ALIGNÂ
- Align Governance and Leadership for successful Board Superintendent relationship (recommended the board president attends this session with the superintendent)
- August –Â LEARN, LISTEN, and PLAN
- Learn about the district and create your AI Assistant Â
- Create the Listening Tour Calendar
- Plan and codify Activities in a 100-day/Transition Plan Â
- September – DEFINE
- Define analytic framework for communication for the entire year
- Define KPIs for Accountability and Measuring ROI
- Define contents for a Strategic Dashboard
- October – ESTABLISH
- Establish goals and Superintendent evaluation process
- November – ASSESS
- Assess the current strategic plan and make recommendation to reaffirm, modify, or begin a new process and planÂ
Your Lasting Impact
- December – TRANSFORMÂ
- Transformation Leadership. Continuous quality improvement. Commitments that define your superintendency. Â
Enrollment
Participation in the academy is included for districts that have recently completed a search contract with HYA. The academy is also available to other interested participants at a rate of $4,500.
