HYA Academy
Michigan State University Practitioner Leadership Learning Academy
Academy Information
As school districts continue to navigate educator shortages, leadership transitions, increasing instructional demands, and school improvement initiatives, developing a strong leadership pipeline has never been more important. The Practitioner Leadership Learning Academy was created to help districts build leadership capacity by preparing aspiring and emerging leaders to effectively address today’s complex educational challenges while positioning them for future leadership opportunities.
Through a rigorous, research-based curriculum led by experienced educational leaders and university faculty, participants will strengthen their instructional leadership practices, develop strategic decision-making skills, foster collaborative school cultures, and build the organizational leadership competencies necessary to improve teaching and learning. The academy directly supports district priorities related to leadership succession planning, instructional excellence, educator recruitment and retention, continuous school improvement, and organizational effectiveness.
Course Details
Class Dates:
Classes will be 100% virtual and will take place on Friday evenings from 4:30-7:30 p.m. CST and Saturday mornings 8:00-11:00 a.m. CST on the following dates:
● November 13, 2026
● November 14, 2026
● December 11, 2026
● December 12, 2026
● January 8, 2027
● January 9, 2027
● January 29, 2027
● January 30, 2027
● February 26, 2027
● February 27, 2027
Price: $3,000
Course Topics
- Introduction to the Course and Overview of Problems of Practice
- Leading Futuristic Teaching and Learning
- Leading the Integration of Literacies Across the Curriculum
- Leading the Stewardship of Financial and Chronemic Capital
- Leading the Alignment of Educational, Organizational, and Political Standards
- Managing the Social and Emotional Toll of Leadership
- Leading the Stewardship of Community Relationships from Your Backyard to the Global Community
- Dancing with the Data: Building Leadership Capacity for Understanding and Articulating Correlation and Causation
- Navigating the Complex Political and Legal Landscape of Education
- Building the Communication Capacity of Leaders: Presentation of Proposals Addressing Problems of Practice
Featured Presenters/Guest Lecturers From Past Academies
Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson
Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson is an instructional architect. She creates educational environments where all children can reach their optimum potential. Her career has spanned over thirty years, having journeyed from the classroom as a special education teacher to a senior-level administrator who has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues nationwide. She has maintained two guiding pillars: a passion for student excellence and mentorship.
An outspoken advocate on equity issues for women, Dr. Cook-Robinson co-founded the Minority Women’s Network, which supports women and educators across the nation. With a zealous commitment to equity for ALL students, Dr. Cook-Robinson led an advisory group of state education leaders, known as the School Finance Research Collaborative, to complete a game-changing study that began in 2018 to determine the actual cost of educating a student within Michigan.
Dr. Cook-Robinson has received many accolades both as a leader in education and as a dedicated community member, including being named 2013 “State of Michigan Superintendent of the Year” by the Michigan Association of School Administrators and, that same year, “National Finalist, Superintendent of the Year” by the American Association of School Administrators. In October 2023, she received the “Women Rock Science Outstanding Leader Award” from the Cranbrook Institute of Science for her dedication to encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. In 2021, she was included on the list of Crain’s Detroit Business “100 Most Notable Women in Leadership.” In 2019, Dr. Cook-Robinson was honored by The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) as a recipient of the “Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award,” which recognizes leaders whose attributes include a personal commitment to diversifying the field of education with high-quality leaders and ensuring the best education for all students. That same year, AASA honored Dr. Cook-Robinson with the “Women in School Leadership Award.” She also received the Wayne State University College of Education Alumni Association’s “Distinguished Educator” award.
Dr. Cook-Robinson is highly active in her community, having served on several boards, including the Michigan Schools & Government Credit Union board. She was the first African American member of the foundation board for the Association of Education Service Agencies and, in March 2020, became the first African American president-elect of that same organization. She is also a member of the board of governors for the Cranbrook Institute of Science, the President Emeritus of the School Finance Research Foundation, and the Vice President of the Zonta Club of Southfield.
Dr. Cook-Robinson retired in 2024 as the Superintendent of Oakland Schools, a position she held from 2015-2024. In this role, she applied her years of educational experience and vast leadership skills to support the academic achievement of more than 200,000 students in Oakland County’s 28 public school districts and 24 public school academies. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University, a master’s degree in Curriculum Development and Supervision from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Michigan State University. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Urban Superintendents Association of America Inc.
Ennis Harvey
Mr. Harvey is a product of the DeKalb County School District with 30 years of diverse teaching and leadership experience at the primary, secondary, district and state levels. This experience includes serving as both principal and assistant principal at the K-12 level, and having district leadership experience, including serving as a Program Administrator for High School Transformation with Atlanta Public Schools, where he led a school district in transforming all of its large comprehensive high schools into small schools and small learning communities.
Mr. Harvey has served as a School Improvement Specialist contracted by Georgia Department of Education to lead schools through a comprehensive school improvement process model. He led schools in effective implementation of school improvement plans that included measurable long-term goals and short-term objectives as well as aligned strategies, interventions, activities, milestones, professional learning plans, and budgets that supported the overall school improvement process.
His passion to motivate teachers and leaders to perform above and beyond expectations led to his appointment as CEO Administrator for School Transformation with Chicago Public Schools. This role allowed him to specialize in K-12 Leadership, professional learning in best teaching and administrative practices, staff performance management, quality assurance and executive coaching. Additionally, Mr. Harvey has served as Chief of Transformation and Associate Superintendent with the Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin where he led organizational change with Student Services, Staff and Student Supports, Federal and State Programs, Office of School Safety, Athletics as well as providing supervision for Elementary and High Schools in the District.
Most recently, Mr. Harvey served as Executive Administrator for DeKalb County School District, where he was responsible for supervising and developing principal leadership, instructional direction and coordination of professional learning opportunities for high schools.
Lastly, Mr. Harvey strives to help educators understand the importance of transforming every facet of education to ensure that all teachers and leaders are skilled to promote learners that are college, career and community ready.
His extensive knowledge of effective instructional and organizational practices assists schools and districts seeking to maximize and improve student achievement.
Adam Lechnir
Adam Lechnir brings extensive experience in executive leadership, strategy, and development expertise for boards. Adam led boards through significant transitions, created innovative board development programs, implemented values-aligned decision-making and embedded continuous improvement processes, and forged board and executive leadership alignment on a wide range of board priorities. With effective governance programs, policies, and procedures, Adam has successfully driven outcomes aligned to the board’s educational vision for the students and communities they serve.
Adam provides tailored board workshops on effective governance practices, goal-setting and strategic planning, board assessments and self-evaluations, and superintendent evaluations; coaching and strategic advice for board chairs and members; development of board organizational supports; board-level strategic communications; and assessment of board meeting structures, policies, and procedures.
Dr. Kelley A. Peatross
Dr. Kelley A. Peatross is a cabinet-level human resources executive and higher education leader currently serving as Vice President for Human Resources at Alvin College in Texas. With more than three decades of experience across K-12, higher education, and public service, she has led large-scale organizational transformation, workforce strategy, labor relations, and compliance initiatives in complex educational systems.
Dr. Peatross is recognized for aligning people strategy with institutional mission, strengthening leadership capacity, and building cultures grounded in trust, accountability, and service. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Leadership and has served in senior roles including Superintendent, Chief Human Resources Officer, Assistant Superintendent and college board of regents trustee.
Dr. Lillie Cox
Dr. Lillie Cox is a nationally recognized educational leader and leadership development strategist dedicated to strengthening schools, empowering educators, and building systems where both leaders and students thrive. With more than 30 years of experience in education, she has devoted her career to advancing instructional excellence while intentionally developing strong leadership at every level.
Dr. Cox has served as a principal at all grade levels, held multiple cabinet-level central office positions, and led school districts as a superintendent.
Today, Dr. Cox serves as Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium (PTEC) and the North Carolina Association for Teaching, Learning & Leading (NCATLL). She is also President of the Teaching, Learning, Leading Network (T3LN), a national collaboration of 13 former state ASCD affiliates working together to expand leadership development, professional learning, and innovation across the country.
Dr. Cox is also the Founder and Owner of WE Lead (Women in Educational Leadership), a national organization created to advance women through career development, professional growth, and wellness through conferences, coaching, mentorship, and community-building, reaching thousands of women for over a decade.
Her leadership has been recognized at the state and national levels, including receiving the Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award from the American Association of School Administrators, national Magna Awards for innovative district leadership, and recognition as a finalist for the Women in School Leadership Award for Superintendents.
Across every role she has held — from classroom teacher to superintendent to national network president — Dr. Cox remains deeply committed to equity, leadership development, and creating opportunities for educators to thrive.
Dr. Josha Talison
Dr. Josha L. Talison is a native of Detroit, MI. Dr. Talison was educated in the Detroit Public School system and eventually attended Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY. After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education from KSU, he immediately enrolled in the University of Cincinnati’s College Of Education where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Dr. Talison then returned to his hometown of Detroit, MI and began his teaching career in the Detroit (MI) Public Schools and eventually in the Southfield (MI) Public Schools. Dr. Talison soon entered into the area of educational administration and obtained his Doctor of Education degree from Wayne State University in the area of Educational Policy Studies and Leadership. Dr. Talison served as an assistant principal in the Rochester (MI) Community School District, principal in the Oak Park (MI) Public Schools and principal in the Southfield (MI) Public Schools prior to becoming the superintendent of the Beecher Community School District in Flint, MI in August 2010. Under his leadership, the district made unprecedented academic and affective achievements. A few of these achievements were: Becoming the first district in the state of Michigan to implement a Balanced School Calendar (year round schooling) to eliminate summer loss for students; Creating symbiotic partnerships with the University of Michigan-Flint and Mott Community College to create college and career opportunities on the campus of Beecher High School; the creation of an awarding with 9th Grade Academy, facilitating Dailey Elementary School becoming a Michigan Department of Education Reward School and National Title I Distinguished School. As a result of these accomplishments, Dr. Talison was awarded Michigan Association of School Administrators Region V Superintendent of the year in the fall of 2015.
In June of 2017, Dr. Talison was appointed as Superintendent of the Ecorse Public Schools outside of metropolitan Detroit. As the leader of Ecorse Public Schools, Dr. Talison has continued to positively shape the lives of students by facilitating the implementation of several initiatives: The creation of a robust dual enrollment program with Wayne County Community College, passing of the Sinking Fund and Energy Conservation Bond Initiatives to provide capital upgrades to district facilities; facilitating the expansion of Career and Technical Education programs in the areas of radio and television, aviation, Certified Nurses Assistant Technician, and Graphic and Media Arts. Under Dr. Talison’s leadership, student enrollment has increased eight consecutive years within the Ecorse Public Schools as well.
Dr. Talison believes all children can learn and be successful regardless of their circumstances and he works daily to ensure that this happens for the children he serves.
Sherry Terrell-Webb, J.D.
Sherry Terrell-Webb, J.D., was appointed Milwaukee Area Technical College’s general counsel in May 2023, and in March 2025 she was promoted to VP & General Counsel. She provides general legal counsel and oversight of all legal matters of the district
Terrell-Webb came to Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) after serving as general counsel for the Madison Metropolitan School District. She led the organization through the legal and policy challenges of COVID-19 and focused her service to the district on labor and employment, privacy and compliance, and student matters.
Before that, Terrell-Webb served for 11 years as corporate legal counsel for LindenGrove Inc., a large local nursing home based in Waukesha, where she advised and collaborated with human resources and internal stakeholders on employment law matters.
Terrell-Webb holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctor from the Marquette University Law School.
At MATC, she manages and oversees Public Safety, Risk and Compliance, student complaints and Title IX. She also has general oversight over outside legal counsel; district board matters; and other general legal issues that affect MATC particularly in labor and employment.
Dr. Norman Sauce
Dr. Norman C. Sauce III was appointed by the DeKalb County Board of Education to serve as Interim Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in November 2025.
He recently served DCSD as Chief of Student Services, beginning in February 2024, whereby he supported and supervised DCSD’s Departments of Exceptional Education, English Language Learners, Gifted Education, and Early Learning and Pre-K.
Dr. Sauce also served DCSD as Area Superintendent for High Schools, where he supervised a team of academic and climate support personnel and principals for 22 of DCSD’s high schools. In addition, he served DCSD as Region IV Superintendent,
supervising and supporting the 17 schools and centers which then comprised DCSD’s Region IV, and their principals. This role included having supervisory responsibility for a Micro-Cabinet team, helping to facilitate success within Region IV schools and centers.
Before returning to DCSD in November 2022, Dr. Sauce served the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) in the positions of Executive Director of Student Support Services and as Executive Director of Elementary Education.
Prior to this time, Dr. Sauce served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. Moreover, he served as an assistant principal and social studies teacher at schools in his native Southern California before moving to Georgia.
Dr. Sauce currently serves on the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools Georgia, a major non-profit connector of families in need of wrap around services in the State. He previously served on the Board of Directors for The Lee Thompson Young Foundation: a leading non-profit in the national conversation around destigmatizing mental health.
Dr. Sauce earned the following educational credentials: Doctor of Education, University of Southern California; Master of Education, University of California Los Angeles; and Bachelor of Arts degree in History, California State University Long Beach.
The foundations of Dr. Sauce’s leadership are relationships, receptiveness, and responsiveness. He embraces Connors and Smith’s (2011) Results Pyramid, which posits that desired outcomes begin with ensuring stakeholders participate in desired
experiences, which shape their beliefs, which influence their actions, which ultimately leads to our results.
Dr. Lara Dixon
Dr. Lara Dixon is an educator, leader, and consultant with experience in university and public school district settings. She serves as Director of Educator Preparation and Accreditation and Assistant Professor of K–12 Administration at Michigan State University. Lara is CEO of Archer Educational Consulting and has delivered over 80 invited presentations on leadership, learning, culture, achievement, and generative AI. She serves on statewide committees with the Michigan Department of Education and is Secretary/Treasurer of MAPEL.
A Gerstacker Fellow, Lara has studied how leaders in government, education, and industry improve national achievement and economic growth. Previously, she held roles as teacher, principal, district director, and board member in Ohio and Michigan public schools. Lara has earned multiple state and national awards for leadership, innovation, and school culture. She holds an Ed.D. from Eastern Michigan University and advanced degrees from the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.
Dr. John Gatta
John Gatta, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ECRA Group. In addition to his responsibilities at ECRA Group, John is an Associate Professor of statistics, predictive analytics, and machine learning at Northwestern University, where he served as Director of Research for 12 years. Dr. Gatta has been the recipient of local and national awards such as educator of the year from Northwestern University and statistician of the year from the American Statistical Association for excellence in the teaching of statistics and data science. He has publications in both the education and healthcare sectors.
His unique blend of academic, technical, management, and leadership experience gives him keen insights into how schools can best adopt research and analytics as a core strategy for quality improvement. As CEO of ECRA Group, Dr. Gatta serves as chief architect of ECRA’s analytic infrastructure related to data structures, prediction algorithms, and reporting.
