MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Leadership Work
That Makes Everything
Else Work.
This is one of the hardest moments Minnesota school leaders have faced in a generation. The external pressures are unprecedented. The expectation to lead with steadiness, clarity, and relational skill has never been higher.
"Most professional development teaches leaders what to do. This series starts with who they are."
“Our district culture has grown exponentially, and we are a stronger organization because of her partnership and expertise.”
DR. ALISON GILLESPIE · ASST. SUPERINTENDENT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING · WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOLS ISD624
15
years bringing Insights™ to
Minnesota school districts
WHY THIS SERIES
Built for the complexity your leaders are already navigating
Minnesota school leaders are being asked to do something extraordinarily hard right now: lead with clarity and steadiness in the middle of uncertainty that stretches far beyond their buildings. That kind of leadership does not happen by accident. It is built.
The Finding Human™ Year-Long Leadership Series gives educational leaders the framework, tools, and practice to lead with greater self-awareness, communicate more effectively, and build the kind of relational trust that sustains high-performing teams.
This is not one more initiative layered on top of everything else. It builds the shared language and leadership capacity that make your existing initiatives more successful, including your strategic plan, instructional priorities, and student achievement work. It is the under-layer, not the overlay.
The series runs across four sessions, structured to fit within your existing professional development windows.
THE SESSION ARC
Self. Others. Systems. A structured year-long arc.
SESSION 1: FOUNDATIONS
Insights Discovery™ and Human-Centered Leadership
Every participant receives a 30-page Insights Discovery™ profile, a personal map of how they lead, communicate, respond under pressure, and show up to the people they lead. This foundational session launches the year with a shared language the cohort will use together long after the series ends.
SESSION 2: SELF
Storytelling, Identity, and Human Development in Education
How do our lived experiences shape the way we lead, teach, and understand others? This session helps leaders examine the stories, backgrounds, and histories that shape their perception, communication, and relationships with staff and students, building the self-awareness that relational leadership depends on.
SESSION 3: OTHERS
Holding Space, Communication, and Relational Leadership
Combining Holding Space practices from the Art of Hosting community and Insights Discovery™, this session builds practical tools to: understand diverse communication styles, hold space for meaningful dialogue, build trust, navigate conflict, and strengthen collaboration across teams.
SESSION 4: SYSTEMS
Leading Through Change, Culture, and Organizational Dynamics
The culminating session turns the lens outward to the systems, cultures, and organizational environments leaders are responsible for shaping. Participants use the G-Wave™ personal action planning framework to set commitments for continued growth.
At the close of every session: The L.E.A.D.™ Reflection Model
L
LEARN
What new awareness emerged today?
A
APPLY
How will you apply this in your leadership practice?
E
EXPERIENCE
What did you notice about your own reactions?
D
DISCOVER
What new question are you leaving with?
WHAT PARTICIPANTS GAIN
More than a professional development experience
- A personal Insights Discovery™ leadership profile they will use all year
- A shared communication language across their team or cohort
- Practical tools for navigating difficult conversations and staff dynamics
- Stronger conflict navigation and communication skills
- Greater self-awareness and reflective leadership capacity
- A personal action plan for continued growth
Who this is for
- Principals and building-level administrators building stronger school teams
- Central office leaders strengthening communication and shared leadership
- Mixed leadership cohorts including teachers, department chairs, and administrators
- District-wide leadership teams investing in long-term culture and effectiveness
CEU approval is applied for following each session in Minnesota. Past sessions have been successfully granted. CEU approval is not guaranteed and is subject to the applicable licensing authority.
What Educators Are Saying
"Our partnership with Paula Forbes and Insights Discovery™ has had a profound impact on White Bear Lake Area Schools. Paula has helped our leaders better understand themselves and one another, navigate complex challenges, and build stronger, more connected teams. As a result, our district culture has grown exponentially, and we are a stronger organization because of her partnership and expertise."
White Bear Lake Area Schools ISD624
"I have enjoyed working with Paula Forbes and The Finding Human Institute LLC. on a number of projects over the past several years. They offer an array of professional development trainings and tools, expertly designed to foster self-awareness, enhance communication, and drive strategic alignment within organizations. Their participatory style and fresh perspectives are hallmarks of their success, building lasting relationships with every client."
Minneapolis Public Schools
"Paula Forbes is amazing with her ability to bring community together to solve the most complex problems. Her approach is always tailored to the problem or question, and time spent with her is always personable, fun, and caring!!"
BrightWorks Service Cooperative