The Leader I'll Be - by Sylvia Lopez & Tracey Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

Are you a school counselor ready to elevate your impact and drive positive change within your school? The Leader I'll Be is your essential guide to developing the leadership skills necessary to excel in your role.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Take the Lead: Understand the core characteristics of effective leadership and cultivate your own leadership style.
• Champion Equity: Learn actionable strategies to identify and address inequities, fostering a supportive learning environment for every student.
• Master Your Time: Implement effective time management strategies to conquer chaos, prioritize tasks, and maximize your impact on student success.
• Build Leadership Capacity: Discover how to establish or enhance a school counselor leadership academy within your district.
• Leave a Lasting Legacy: Reflect on your impact, overcome challenges, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of your students and school community.

Whether you're a new school counselor or a seasoned professional, this workbook will empower you to step into your leadership potential, advocate effectively for your students, and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout your school.

Book Synopsis

Are you a school counselor ready to elevate your impact and drive positive change within your school? The Leader I'll Be: Best Practices for School Counselors and District Leaders is your essential guide to developing the leadership skills necessary to excel in your role.

Written by experienced former school counselors and counselor leaders, this practical workbook provides actionable strategies and proven techniques to help you navigate the daily challenges and become the influential leader you aspire to be.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Take the Lead: Understand the core characteristics of effective leadership and cultivate your own leadership style.
• Champion Equity: Learn actionable strategies to identify and address inequities, fostering a supportive learning environment for every student.
• Master Your Time: Implement effective time management strategies to conquer chaos, prioritize tasks, and maximize your impact on student success.
• Build Leadership Capacity: Discover how to establish or enhance a school counselor leadership academy within your district.
• Leave a Lasting Legacy: Reflect on your impact, overcome challenges, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of your students and school community.

The Leader I'll Be goes beyond theory, offering:

• Real-world examples and insights drawn from the authors' extensive experience.
• Practical tools and templates you can implement immediately.
• Reflective activities to encourage personal and professional growth.
• Resources to further support your leadership journey.

Whether you're a new school counselor or a seasoned professional, this workbook will empower you to step into your leadership potential, advocate effectively for your students, and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout your school.

Invest in your leadership journey and become the leader your students deserve.

Perfect for:

• School Counselors
• School Counselor Leaders
• District Leaders
• Counseling Supervisors
• Professional Development

Review Quotes

The Leader I'll Be is the perfect gift for new counselors, interns, and even seasoned professionals looking to elevate their impact. This guide walks readers through the essential roles and components of a comprehensive school counseling program, while offering practical strategies for time management and leadership development. With a strong focus on equity, it empowers counselors to become true champions for all students in their buildings.

Laura Filtness
School Counselor

I really enjoyed this amazing resource book for school counselors! The Leader I'll Be leads educators to discover core tenets of effective leadership, how to master your time, establishing a leadership collaborative and more.
I really enjoyed that this didn't feel like a textbook read. Instead, I was engaged and felt like time flew by (which is not how it feels with many nonfiction reads).
Effective leadership requires courage, commitment, and integrity of character. There are several evidence-based practices with actionable steps to help enhance individual leadership skills. Templates are included to use with things such as surveying parents or setting up administrative conferences.
Heading into a new school year, I feel more confident and comfortable in my role and the lasting impact I can have on my students, families, and coworkers.

Brittany Smith
Counselor

Inspired by just reading the title, I was eager to immerse myself with all the parts of this book. Not only did it reaffirm that I am making a difference but gave insight into how I can continue to learn and grow.

Amber Nutter
School Counselor

About the Author

Dr. Sylvia A. Lopez is the former Director of Counseling Services for the second-largest school district in Texas. She spent forty-one years of her educational experience as a school counselor and as a principal in an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. She also served as the Director of Counseling Services, where she facilitated the implementation of the school counseling program, coordinated district-wide initiatives, and actively supported and sponsored many of the College and Career Readiness Initiatives. In August 2017, Dr. Lopez retired to focus her work in other areas. Dr. Lopez co-founded the Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA) in 2017. This association was formed to address the needs of school counselors and provide quality training and information for all school counselors across Texas. She also serves as a business consultant to help school district leaders understand the importance of a quality school counseling program by providing training and designing systems to benefit the school counselor.

Dr. Tracey Brown has been an educator and school counseling professional for more than twenty-eight years. Her tenure includes teacher, school counselor, counselor supervisor, mental health clinician, Director of Guidance, Counseling, & College Readiness, and Executive Director of Mental Health Services. Dr. Brown has a passion for supporting students and helping them overcome the challenges they face in the educational environment. She has also devoted her life to ensuring that school counseling professionals have the tools they need to serve students with care and excellence. Dr. Brown has served on various school counseling boards in the state of Texas and developed programs that helped school counselors achieve both state and national recognition. She is also an accomplished author, speaker, and talk show host.