District Liaison Involvement in Partnership Academies - Debra M. Gustafson and Nancy Kiltz

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag

District liaisons describe how their evolving responsibilities across multiple academies shaped their experiences in a role centered on bridging theory and practice. The text profiles Debra M. Gustafson and Nancy Kiltz, detailing leadership backgrounds and their ongoing participation in Kansas State University partnership academies. It explains the rationale for investing in people, notes leadership development as a catalyst for positive learning environments, and outlines early collaboration efforts beginning in 1998–1999.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

District Liaison Involvement in Partnership Academies

Profiles of Debra M. Gustafson and Nancy Kiltz

Rationale for Partnership Academy Involvement

Initial Experience

District liaisons who have personally adjusted to their changing roles over several academies describe their experiences in this important position, which is a key role in the effort to successfully merge theory and practice. District Liaison Involvement in Partnership Academies Debra M. Gustafson and Nancy Kiltz Dr. Debra M. Gustafson serves as principal of Keith L. Ware Elementary schoolin Geary County Schools. Her thirty-nine-year career in USD 475 includes twenty-four as a building principal. Dr. Gustafson has been involved with the KSU Leadership Academy partnerships since they were established in USD 475 as a researcher, mentor, guest instructor and currently as partner liaison. She isan assistant professor at Kansas State University and completed herEd.D at KSU with a case study of the leadership academy model. Dr. Nancy Kiltz has been the Executive Director of Human Resources for USD 305 in Salina for the past five years. Before that, she served the Salina school system as Executive Director of Administrative Services. Dr. Kiltz has served on the Advisory Council of the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute. She completed herEd.D at Kansas State University, and has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas Wesleyan University. Rationale for Partnership Academy Involvement The greatest legacy a leader can leave is having developed other leaders…if you want to leave a legacy, invest in people, and encourage those you develop topass on everything they learn from you to others who will do the same. People are what matter in this world – not money or fame or buildings or organizations or institutions. Only people. (Maxwell, 2015, para. 4) Maxwell’s words were the core of a philosophy shared with us early in our careers as educational building leaders. In talking to other leaders, we quickly learned we would only be as effective of a leader as the strength of those we surrounded ourselves with on a daily basis. While observing school leaders, we noted the most effective leaders shared their power and knowledge freely with others. In addition, we soon understood that taking the time to develop leadership potential in others would assist greatly in our efforts to shape and share the vision for the buildings we served. These beliefs propelled us to get involved in the very first master’s level Professional Administrative Leadership Academy developed between Kansas State University (KSU) in collaboration with Geary County Schools, Salina Schools and Manhattan Schools in Kansas.1 The opportunity to be directly involved in developing future building leaders was something we knew would help us grow in our own positions and also ensure that the work we had devoted our lives and careers to would continue on in our absence. The ability to foster the type of thinking that promotesand creates positive learning environments in building educators and staff is imperative for student learning. The concept that schools must promote student growth and learning is the catalyst from which all efforts of school leaders should be based. However, not all potential school leaders understand the basis from which they should lead. The ability to influence this philosophy in future leaders was paramount in our decisions to take on leadership roles in developing future school administrators. Political 38 Vol. 43, No. 4, Fall 2016 commentator Walter Lippmann said,“the final test of a leader is that he leaves behind in others the conviction and will to carry on. Ultimately, if your people can’t do it without you, you haven’t been successful in raising up other leaders”(Maxwell, 2015, para. 1). Through the leadership academy model, the dispositions and practices of effective leaders can be directly passed on to future leaders. The basic structure of the leadership academy model is developed to allow practicing leaders to have direct influence over educators interested in leadership. An elementary principal in one of the academy hosting distr

FAQs

Who are the district liaisons described in the document?

Debra M. Gustafson and Nancy Kiltz are introduced as district liaisons involved with partnership academies through their leadership and academic roles.

What is the rationale for involvement in the partnership academy model?

The document argues that the greatest legacy is developing other leaders, emphasizing people as the core driver of sustainable leadership and effective learning environments.

How did the initial partnership academy experience begin?

In 1998, districts identified applicant shortages and skill gaps, leading to workshops in Salina and discussions with Kansas State University, with planning sessions beginning by spring 1999.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag