Congratulations are in order!

When we hear about folks we've worked with over the years be recognized for their outstanding leadership we can't help but do a little happy dance for them. 

And tell you about it in our newsletter!

Because when great leaders are doing great things, it can be incredibly inspiring for the rest of us. 

Dr. Sam Buenrostro and Melissa Doberstein have been part of the "Diamond6 Family" for many years now and we are proud of their recent achievements!
 

Dr. Sam Buenrostro named Superintendent of the Year by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators

Sam is the superintendent at Corona-Norco Unified School District in California, where he has resided for 32 years. He has served in numerous roles over the past 23 years in CNUSD, including Deputy Superintendent in Human Resources and Instructional Support. Sam has been attending the Gettysburg Workshop with his team every summer for nearly 10 years now! We have watched Sam take on various leadership roles over the years with incredible skill and keen awareness. He and the entire team at CNUSD have been by our side since the beginning! READ MORE HERE.

Melissa Doberstein named a Penn State University Administrative Fellow for the 2023/2024 Academic Year

Melissa is the program director at the Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) in the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University. In this program, select students develop leadership fundamentals to thrive in an environment in which multiple dimensions of an issue are explored, and diverse viewpoints are welcomed and heard. Melissa and her students have participated in the Pearl Harbor Leadership Workshop in Hawaii for several years now. Quite an undertaking that she sees through with ease, grace, and fine-tuned leadership. Working with these students has been a highlight for us! READ MORE HERE.

Sam and Melissa show that leaders must be life long learners and that growth is not only possible, but essential. 

We look forward to seeing the positive impact these incredible leaders have on their organizations and students in the coming years!

"I thought I was just a lunch lady."

6 days in Gettysburg.
3 school district.
100 participants.
1 rain day.

Welcome to the Diamond6 summer workshops!

We're only halfway through June and we have already hosted 100 participants from three different school districts for our Gettysburg Leadership Workshops. 

This is truly our favorite time of year. 

Working with educators and school district staff is incredibly rewarding. 

Their energy, commitment, and desire to do right by their students and communities is inspiring, to say the least. 

In every group we hear lightbulb moments and insights that remind us why we do what we do. 

Here is one example....

One of the big messages we try to convey is that EVERYONE is a leader, no matter their title. 

At the end of the first day at Gettysburg last week a participant approached Jeff and said, 

"Until now I always thought of myself as just the lunch lady.....

....but now I realize that I'm a leader, and an important part of this team."

Yes, yes, YES!

If she doesn't lead her team to successfully get lunch prepared and served, thousands of students and staff won't eat lunch. 

For some kids this is their best meal of the day. 

Without a midday meal teachers can't teach, and students can't learn. 

The lunch lady is a leader and absolutely ESSENTIAL!

We have heard many different versions of the "I'm just a lunch lady" statement over the years. 

"I'm just a second grade teacher."
"I'm just a secretary."
"I'm just a new employee."

It's time to nix "just" from our vocabulary - for ourselves and for those we lead. 

The second grade teacher is a leader and role model to their students and fellow teachers. 

The secretary is leading their boss and the face of the office who often carries critical historical knowledge about the organization. 

The new employee leads their peers and brings a fresh perspective into the organization that can inspired important change. 

Do you use JUST to describe yourself sometimes?

I challenge you to drop that word and reframe your description. 

And when someone around you says, "I'm just a ......" stop them right away and tell them they are a leader and they are essential to the team!

By dropping this one little word we are reminded of our intrinsic value and the important role we play in accomplishing our organizations mission. 

Let us know your "just" description and how you're going to reframe it!