How a School Combined a Leadership Retreat with Professional Development
Morrison Academy, an international school in Taiwan, took a unique approach to professional development by integrating their annual leadership retreat with the Lead to Succeed Conference. Led by Principal Christina Stowers and Development Director Scott Finch, the school brought a large group of middle and senior leaders to the event, blending their internal strategic planning with high-impact professional learning. Their experience underscores the value of combining leadership development with collaborative reflection in an inspiring setting.
The Origin of the Leadership Retreat at Lead to Succeed
The idea of attending Lead to Succeed as part of Morrison’s leadership retreat originated with Scott Finch, who first highlighted the conference as a professional development opportunity. After reviewing the event, Christina Stowers saw its potential to enhance their retreat.
“Once a year, we bring our leadership team together to reflect on the past year and plan for the next. But I wanted to add a professional learning component this time,” Christina explained. “When I saw the sessions and topics at Lead to Succeed, I asked, ‘Can we bring our team?’ And the answer was yes.”
Morrison Academy’s leadership teams from both their Taichung and Kaohsiung campuses attended the event. The decision to integrate professional development into their retreat proved to be a powerful addition that energized their leaders.
A Focus on Middle Leadership Development
One of the key goals for Morrison Academy was to provide targeted professional development for their middle leaders, a group that often misses out on leadership training.
“Last year, we took our middle leaders to a teachers’ conference, which was great,” Scott shared. “But there wasn’t much focus on leadership. Lead to Succeed was a great opportunity to provide that professional development while also facilitating conversations as a group.”
The conference’s workshops and deep-dive sessions introduced middle leaders to essential leadership topics, such as change management, coaching, and team building. Many of these leaders were engaging with these concepts for the first time, and they found the experience both eye-opening and practical.
Blending Internal Reflection with Professional Learning
Morrison Academy extended their retreat by arriving in Bangkok a few days before the conference. This allowed them to conduct internal discussions on topics ranging from strategic planning to next year’s school calendar. The conference then added a layer of professional development that enriched their retreat.
Christina emphasized the value of this dual approach: “We had time to reflect as a team and then attend sessions tailored to leadership development. After the event, we debriefed and asked, ‘What have you taken from the conference, and how are you applying it now?’ This made the learning practical and actionable.”
The Power of Connection and a Tailored Experience
The conference’s intentional design, with its mix of senior and middle leaders, facilitated meaningful conversations and networking.
“The diversity of participants made it less intimidating for our middle leaders,” Christina noted. “There was a good balance of senior leaders and those new to leadership, which created a welcoming environment for everyone to share and learn.”
Scott added, “The flexibility in session topics was also a highlight. Everyone could choose something relevant to their role, whether it was coaching, experiential learning, or safety.”
The compact venue and thoughtfully planned breaks further enhanced the experience. Morrison’s team appreciated the opportunity to connect with other educators during breaks and social events.
Conclusion: A Transformative Experience
For Morrison Academy, Lead to Succeed was more than a conference—it was a transformative experience that empowered their leaders, fostered collaboration, and set the stage for meaningful change.
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