More than 70 Virginia Beach City Public Schools custodians and cafeteria staff took part in leadership and management training this year through the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation (PGI).

To be eligible for classes, interested staff submitted applications accompanied by recommendations from their building administrators. With more than 150 applicants, the first cohort rapidly expanded into two and the series of trainings kicked off in February.

“The goal is to develop and strengthen individual capacity in the areas of leadership and management by building knowledge, skills, and dispositions —all while emphasizing the tenets of School Division Services, which are to provide excellent educational facilitates that are safe, clean, well maintained and free from health hazards; and to ensure that students are served nutritious and affordable meals,” said Sarah Payne, PGI professional learning specialist.

“We worked closely with the directors and supervisors in both Custodial and Food Services to determine needs and desired outcomes of the training, as well as to design some of the content,” added Shelley Labiosa, also a PGI specialist, and co-facilitator of the training.

The six-session Leadership and Management Training, which concluded at the end of May, involved a balance of learning content with activities to practice skills and strategies, coaching and evaluation, difficult conversations and work scenarios.

From the start, the important contributions that these employee groups provide the school division was evident. In session one, custodial and cafeteria staff participated in a “working style inventory” to learn how they relate to and are perceived by colleagues. They identified characteristics of four styles (relaters, socializers, commanders and investigators), which evolved into conversations about what these working styles mean to them as leaders.

In sessions two and three, participants used the employee evaluation rubric for both self-assessment and to learn how to provide positive feedback while coaching others on their team. They practiced conversations to guide and motivate staff followed mock problem-solving exercises based on authentic work situations in their schools. Several participants reported facing these exact scenarios on the job and were appreciative for the practice.

Leveraging their strengths and leadership styles learned in earlier sessions helped participants role-play and brainstorm approaches to difficult conversations in session four.

Human Resources Specialist Bernard Platt led session five which focused on resume writing, interviewing skills, and the application process—all skills that participants could use for individual growth or to develop a team member.

In the final session, participants continued practicing rounds of interviews, obtained resume feedback and role played more difficult conversations and situations.

“I’ve learned a lot about being a team player,” Salem Elementary School Custodian Louise Spence shared after the sessions. “I’m learning a lot about what’s going on and what to do when unexpected things come up and what you can do to prepare so you and others can do a good job.”

Others agreed.

“I plan to use this course learning to further improve communications and help to inspire my co-workers as well as myself to advance in our careers with VBCPS custodial services,” shared one participant. Another participant plans to “use the learning by becoming a better leader and motivator in my workplace.”

Plans are underway now for the 2016-2017 school year to facilitate new cohorts of custodial and cafeteria staff.