HYA Academy
Michigan State University Practitioner Learning Academy
Thank you for your interest. Please complete the registration form below to enroll in this academy.
Academy Information
The senior leadership program is a 10-session professional learning academy running from February through June 2026. It is the result of a partnership between HYA and the Michigan State University College of Education, one of the nation’s most distinguished and highly ranked colleges of education. Designed by and led by the nation’s top practicing educators, this program reflects the realities, challenges, and decisions faced by today’s education leaders. Learning is hands-on, relevant, and immediately applicable, while also fostering a powerful professional network of peers and mentors. Participants build relationships that extend well beyond the program and support long-term career positioning and leadership opportunities. All participants earn a Michigan State University credential, signifying rigorous, practitioner-based preparation.
Designed for senior-level education leaders, the 100% virtual academy begins on February 27, with additional cohorts and specialty pathways to be offered in the future.
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:
- February 27th and 28th
- March 13th and 14th
- April 10th and 11th
- May 8th and 9th
- June 12th and 13th
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 Instruction 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 Communication Capacity of Leaders: Presentation of Proposals Addressing Problems of Practice
Featured Presenters/Guest Lecturers
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.
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.  Â
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.
