When Jude Dollar first stepped into his kindergarten classroom at Greenway Park, he found himself in an unfamiliar position: the "new guy" on a team working alongside three amazing, veteran educators with decades of service under their belts. For a self-described non-conflict person, finding his voice in professional learning communities felt intimidating. That began to change when the academy introduced him to a foundational "pyramid of trust".

"One of the biggest skills I've learned from this program is that I actually do need to have healthy conflict with people in order to have a progressive PLC and team."

— Jude Dollar

By deep-diving into how true collaboration is built from the baseline up, Dollar experienced a complete mindset shift. He realized that to build a genuinely progressive team, he didn't need to avoid tension—he needed to embrace it.

This dynamic new initiative is reshaping how early-career educators see their futures. The Emerging Teacher Leaders Academy (ETLA) recently concluded its inaugural cohort, bringing together promising educators to debrief months of growth and leadership development. Designed specifically for talented teachers in years one to three of their careers, the academy shifts the focus from typical classroom management to cultivating essential adult leadership and interpersonal skills.

The Spark: Identifying Tomorrow's Leaders Today

The core mission of ETLA is to identify early-career teachers with natural leadership potential and equip them with the "soft skills" necessary to lead informally within their schools. Rather than waiting years to step into formal roles, these new teachers learn to build self-awareness, master daily school-site interactions and comfortably navigate how they show up as leaders.

"The Emerging Teacher Leader Academy is an opportunity for us to tap into our most promising educators in years one to three."

— Sydney Harris-Mboob

The process begins at the school level, where school leaders specifically pinpoint raw talent. Throughout the program—which runs from December through the spring—participants engage in targeted sessions and real-world role-play scenarios based on the exact scenarios they face daily in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and grade-level teams.

Impact in Action

Madison Thomas, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Matthews Elementary, is no stranger to leadership. Growing up as a competitive college softball player, she naturally found herself leading the team. Yet, when this program opportunity first crossed her desk at school, she hesitated.

"Yes, it came across my desk at one point and I was like, oh no, it's not for me. I'm just a baby teacher. But after doing this this year, I think leadership is definitely something that I would consider doing."

— Madison Thomas

Participation in the academy allowed her to step back into that leadership mindset and practice the art of true collaboration. By analyzing team dynamics and learning how to communicate across different personality styles, she shed the idea that she was too green to make a difference.

The impact of the academy stretches far beyond the monthly sessions. For some participants, the program reinforced their desire to eventually enter administration as deans, assistant principals or principals. For others, it gave them the confidence to step forward, voice their opinions and take an active role in keeping their current grade-level teams performing at their absolute best.

Your Turn to Lead

With this first cohort successfully concluded, the Teacher Leader Pathway department is already preparing for the future. There are endless possibilities for growth within the district, and this academy is designed to be the very first step on that leadership journey.

If you are an educator in your first three years of teaching and are looking to grow your leadership skills, build healthier team dynamics and maximize your potential, keep this initiative on your radar. The next application and nomination window will officially open in October . Speak with your school principal today to express your interest and discuss a nomination for the upcoming cohort.