PMP466: Leading Collaboratively with LaDonna Chancellor

LaDonna Chancellor is the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma. With over 25 years in education, she began as a special education teacher, later serving as assistant principal and principal at Central Middle School and Bartlesville High School. As a high school principal, she led major transitions, expanded STEM programs, and earned national recognition for diversity in computer science. In her current role, she oversees curriculum, supports principals, and champions student well-being through initiatives like unplugged school days. A graduate of Northeastern State University and Southern Nazarene University, LaDonna continues to drive academic excellence and student success across the district. Before becoming an educator, LaDonna worked in an abstract office. After becoming a single mother, she decided she needed to go to college, and thus began her education career. 

Career Highlights: 

Over the course of her career, LaDonna has served in many different roles at many different schools. Currently, she serves at Bartlesville Public Schools. When asked what she is proudest of at her school district, her answer is Bartlesville’s teacher recruitment and retention. When she first stepped into the role of Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at Bartlesville, she started a new teacher academy. Since the implementation of that program, Bartlesville Public Schools has seen a 90% retention rate of the new teachers hired. 

Transition from Teaching to Leadership:

LaDonna tells Principal Matters listeners that the motivation to become a school leader came from being a teacher. Once she started teaching, she began to look around and saw needs for all students that could be met through being a school administrator. After becoming an administrator, LaDonna worked hard to create a school environment where teachers wanted to come to school everyday. She explains that if teachers want to come to school, their classroom will be a more enjoyable place. Therefore, LaDonna spends a lot of time focused on school culture.

Advice for New Leaders:

When asked what advice she would give a new leader, LaDonna says to maintain a positive attitude, always. Additionally, she states that positive relationships are the key to success as a leader. It is imperative for school leaders to build, maintain, and repair relationships with staff, students, and parents. Doing so will build the foundation needed for a school leader to be successful. Furthermore, when leaders are stepping into a new role, LaDonna suggests that they spend time watching, listening, and learning before making any changes to the way the school operates. 

Advice for Veteran Leaders:

Next, LaDonna shares some advice with veteran school leaders. In order to avoid burn out, she tells leaders that it is important to focus on work/life balance, especially during busy seasons. For example, each week LaDonna schedules family time with all of her kids and grandkids, and time with her husband. She also emphasizes the importance of school leaders prioritizing their health, both physical and mental.

The Importance of Collaboration:

Throughout her tenure at Bartlesville Public Schools, collaboration has played a key role in the ways LaDonna supports schools and school leaders. Recently, two high schools in her district transitioned into one building, combining two different staffs in the process. Understanding how to bring all those people together to work as a team took some time. LaDonna says that she met with each staff member individually in the year leading up to the merging of the two schools to understand each of their needs. Through collaboration, the two schools successfully merged, with the staff as committed as ever. 

Staying Connected:

You can stay connected with LaDonna Chancellor via email at chancellorlm@bps-ok.org, or Linkedin.

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